New Home. New Adventures. New Memories.
Goodbye, Boise! You will be missed… 😢
You read that right — we’ve moved! My family and I recently made the short trek from Boise, ID to Reno, NV to start a new adventure together. To some, it might seem abrupt to pack up and move to a new state, but we’re so used to a traveling lifestyle from when my hubby was in the Marine Corps. So, after talking with our kiddos and deciding we were ready for a new and fun adventure, we set off to Reno to build memories and bond as a family in our new home.
Moving = Time to Purge
Prior to moving, we took a good look at all of our “stuff” and decided that downsizing our possessions before heading to Reno was the right fit for us. We purged the house of anything that wasn’t truly important to us so we could have a fresh start in the new home. 🏡
And by a new home, I mean a 1950’s ranch-style home that we’re planning to start renovating soon. This means my house is a construction zone that’s short on furniture, decor, and organization. We’ve got patio furniture in the living room and we’re using our Yeti cooler as a TV stand. 😆 That said, we’ll all win in the end since I’ll have so much to share with you all about my favorite budget home renovation and decor tips and tricks!
To save on moving costs and really feel like we’re getting a fresh start in Nevada, we sold and donated the majority of our stuff back in Boise. Even though we didn’t move in with a ton, we’re holding off on doing the majority of the unpacking until after the renovation is done.
So we’ve had to get a little crafty to make the most of it…
We’re learning to make due with less for the time being, and it’s teaching us to be grateful for what we have. ❤️ My daughter Piper and I had a blast picking flowers from our new garden and placed the stems in a lovely Pringles can vase 😂 — hey, it’s FREE and totally works!
She also has quite the obsession with snow globes. Every time we shop, she’s always looking for one to buy and recently found this “lucky” one for a buck at the thrift store (one of our favorite places to shop!). Move over Joanna Gaines… here’s the NEW Hip way to rock a centerpiece! 🤣
Upon moving in, we discovered that the AC unit in the house was and still is NOT working. Thankfully our realtor had purchased us a home warranty (and the AC unit is part of the coverage), so we are hoping to have it fixed within the next couple of weeks… but until then, we’re looking on the bright side and have fans blasting to help us through the heat!
You’ll probably also notice that our drapes are upside down. That’s because they’re hung with painter’s tape (we won’t be installing blinds until after the renovation is complete). 🙃 Pretty, right?! 🤣
After selling so much in Boise prior to the move, we didn’t have many kitchen dishes – so off to the thrift store we went. By the way, my kiddos and I love thrift shopping — they could spend hours looking through all the stuff and have a blast searching for special finds. They came across these funny Christmas dinner plates (that are microwave and dishwasher safe! Score!), so we ended up getting a different design for each member of the family. Yes, we are dorks and will be using these plates starting NOW — no need to wait until Christmas. 🎄
I also picked up these adorable Opalhouse drinking glasses from Target on clearance recently, so you may be able to find them at your local Target too!
They were a steal at just $2.98 (regularly $9.99!). With that said, I grabbed a couple of sets! 🙌
With minimal furniture, my kids have gotten creative! As just one example, a large moving box is now a cozy hangout spot. I feel like we’ve all had so much fun as a family coming up with unique ways to use what we’ve got!
Oh, my sweet Ma. 💕 We’ve got her right on the mantle watching over us. I have so many treasured art pieces and family pictures, but they’ll have to wait to be hung until we’re finished with the renovation. However, I wanted to have something up, and my lovely grandmother’s eulogy represents a relationship I will always cherish. Looking at her smiling face reminds me to be thankful, grateful, and to always celebrate this beautiful life. ❤️
With a new home comes a new school district, meaning my kiddos are starting out fresh this school year. It can be tough to be the new kids at school, but they’re making the best of it (I’m such a proud mama)! They’re already on their second week, and I can’t help but get emotional thinking about how fast they’re growing up. 😭
We’ll only have a couple more years with my oldest son Nick until he heads off to college 😮, which makes each day more precious.
Oh, and I can’t forget to mention how the sixth member of our family is doing! Our dog Yoli is already settled in and loving the new house. 😆
So much about this whole move has made me grateful for my family and the bond we share together.💗 I think it’s safe to say that while it’s not always easy to pack up and start a new chapter, my family and I have found that staying positive throughout the process has truly been rewarding — and the happy memories we’ve already shared in our new home prove it!
New home.
New adventures.
New memories.
I’m literally in tears at you sharing this. I have been wanting to pack up and leave as well but I have been scared & unsure with 2 kids that are settled in their schools and great social lives. I prayed on moving just today & this has inspired Me to take a leap in faith and make great memories while doing it! Thanks for sharing 😇
Awww… you are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to open up. ❤️
Congratulations on your move! I love how positive you are in your post, it takes a lot to practice that during such a big and at times overwhelming change in all your lives.
Hoping you and your family find yourselves surrounded by love, laughter, and friends in your new home!
Thank you. I sure appreciate the comment! ❤️
My 26 year old daughter lives in Reno. After college she moved from where we live in NH to work out there with AmeriCorps. She now works for a great non-profit The Reno Bile Project, as the yourh programs co-ordinator.
https://renobikeproject.org/
*Reno Bike Project
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Congrats Collin good luck and God bless to you and your family
Welcome! I’m close to Reno and hope that you and your family continue to do well and thrive in your new home! I’ll have to read your purge post before my family decides when to move. Thanks for keeping things in perspective! Hope to see you around town!
Awesome that you live nearby! Thank you Monique! 🙂
Good luck to you and your family in Reno. Thank you for sharing your story and continuing to bring us the best deals.
You’re welcome! Thanks so much for the comment!
congrats on your move! my husband is on his 8th year of medical training and we’ve moved several times for med school, residency, etc. we’re planning another move in 2020 for his first attending job! it’s made my kids so resilient and flexible and also keeps our possessions in check! have fun making your house your own, and know that your posts have helped families like ours raise a family of 5 comfortably, giving our budget a little breathing room!
I sure appreciate the comment. Thank YOU. ❤️
I have been reading your blog since the beginning and have lived in Reno for the past 21 years. Welcome! Please message me if you would like local tips, would love to meet you sometime!
Yay!! So fun that you’ve lived in Reno for such a long time! 🙌
Congratulations!! Moving is always exciting. Wishing your family nothing but luck and love!!
Thank you so much! ❤️
Good luck to your family in your new location!
Thanks Debbie! 🙂
Congrats and wish your family the best of luck.
Thank you!
Oh my gosh, nope. The idea of moving gives me hives! Good luck, I am glad that you are excited about it. We also have a fixer-upper and it is awesome anf fun to really do it yourself!
Good luck to you and your family!
Lake Tahoe is the best place in all of the west coast. Born and raised there. Make sure to go to Lake Tahoe Pizza co. They’ve been around 40 yrs!
Awesome! Thank you so much for the restaurant recommendation! 🍕
God Bless and Good Luck to you and your family, Collin, as you navigate everything new again!
Thank you so much!
Congrats on your move! We moved from one state to another years ago. It was like moving to another planet (for awhile) Lol! Good luck and enjoy your new adventure!!
Thank you! 😀
New beginnings are always exciting. Blessings to you & your loved ones in your new home!!
Thanks so much. ❤️
Congratulations on your new home. Enjoy the adventure, you never know what’s around the corner.
Have fun.
Thank YOU! 🙌
Good for you for taking this exciting opportunity and for being able to let go of so many of your belongings. It’s amazing to think about how much we really can live “without.” I’ve often heard that decluttering is a huge stress-reliever and makes room for other things important in life. Best wishes to you and your entire family.
I totally agree, and feel like it sure has relieved stress to purge all the clutter! 🙌
Thanks for the comment.
Wow, great surprising news. Wishing you all the best…..
Thank you! 😀
Hi Collin. Welcome to your new home…..renovating sounds like lots of work for you and hubby.
Your story is so generous and thought provoking . Hope your AC is done soon. Keep sharing
We all want to know how you are doing…….and what you’re doing. You have a very interesting
Life.😇😇😇😇😇
Much luck
Make those memories
Don’t waste any time
❣️ Rita
Thanks so much Rita! I appreciate the comment. 😀❤️
Good luck, Mama…you got this! Lake Tahoe is STUNNING. We went there for our honeymoon 10 years ago and I have wanderlust for that place all.the.time. The crisp, fresh air, the mountains, the smell of the pine trees…heaven on earth. <3
YES, so very excited to live near Tahoe! 🙌😍🌲
Collin,
I’ve followed your website almost since the beginning—I wish you all the best in your new move ! My dream job ! You have definitely helped me save so much money and I hope you and your family have an easy transition!
Awww… thanks so much. I really appreciate that. ❤️
Best wishes and good luck!!!
Thank you!
I wish you and your family many years of love and happiness in your new home!!! You’re always such an amazing inspiration to all of us! God bless your new home ❤️
You are so sweet. Thanks so much for the kind words. ❤️
Congratulations on your move. I only wish I was at your garage sale!
Congratulations on your move! I can’t wait to see the before and after on your house.
Can I just say how impressed with your kids I am? It takes a lot of courage to be willing to change schools and make a whole new set of friends.
Thank you for the comment, I’ll definitely be sharing with my kids! ❤️
Congrats on your move! Did you take all your coupon overstock with you? 🙂 I also collect snowgloves I have loved them forever. I get my daughter one every Christmas. Is your son’s name Nicholas. My middle son hes 9 is named Nicholas. Do you have 2 boys and 1 girl?
Yes, two boys and one girl – Nicholas, Ayden and Piper 😀
How brave you are! Good luck in your new house – but I will certainly miss the videos in your beautiful kitchen!
Thank you, and there will be videos to come in my new kitchen. 🙂
Good Luck Collin!! I’m sure that you’re going to be settled in before you know it.. I wish you and your family the best . May God bless you on this new journey.
Thank you so much. ❤️
I love to move and start fresh. It’s an adventure. Fun to get to know the new place.
Your kids are awesome for being brave. Good job. Love how positive you look at the challenges. Best wishes.
Thank you. I really appreciate your comment. ❤️
Wow! How exciting! It’s clear that your family needs nothing but eachother. Have fun and enjoy this adventure!
Awww…. thank YOU so much. ❤️
Collin, best of luck to you and your family in your new mountain home. 😀 I have a feeling that Pringle can will be your favorite vase ever!! Those are the special memories. ❤️
They sure are! Thank you. ❤️
Best Wishes to u and your family on this great new adventure. Such wonderful lessons you’re teaching your kids! Btw I bought those Opalhouse cups at my Target a few weeks ago, thought they were cute and practical for drinking wine out on my new patio since they’re not made of glass. Looking forward to seeing how u redo the new home!!
Thank YOU! 🙂
Congrats to you & your family! Also I want to add, I LOVE the fact that you still thrift shop and are a bargain hunter. A few years ago I followed another coupon blog where the ladies became successful and was amazed when they posted a video bragging that they “did not have to coupon anymore.” I stopped following them after that. Thanks for always keeping it real. Enjoy your new house and city!
Thank you so much!
Hey Collin! Congrats on the move. I must say I’m super excited to know you’re a mere 3 hours away from where I live. 😛 A little tip since you love thrifting…check out the thrift store in Walker (south of you and over the border on the 395)…it’s a good one. Enjoy settling in and making your house a home!
Ohhhh… exciting!! 🙌 I can’t wait to check out that thrift shop. Thanks so much for the suggestion!
Collin, I have followed your site for at least 7 years. I always see your picture perfect posts in your house and today I feel like you are relatable living in chaos! Thanks for keeping it real! Good luck!
Thank you! 🤣
Thank you for sharing! I wish you and your family the very best.
Thank you!
Good Luck to you and your family on your new home
Thanks much! 🙂
So glad that your move went well. We are moving at the end of the month and I DONT look forward to it with 2 kids and storage unit full of “stuff”. Lol
lol I feel ya! 🤣 I hope your move goes smoothly! 🙌
Congratulation, Collin! Thank you for sharing and remind us of some life lessons. I moved 3 months ago, in the same city, still have some boxes unopened :0
So, I really applaud people who are brave to move far away cause it’s really hard.
Wish your family enjoy the new home and cheers to new memories! 🙂
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the comment. ❤️
Congrats! Make some swamp coolers for now, check youtube.
YES, we SO need those in our life! 😉
Woooow Collin! Last time I saw a picture of your kids they were tiny! 😱 time flies! Enjoy your kiddos 🤗
Time sure does fly by, and I’m definitely trying to enjoy these precious moments with them. ❤️
Excited for you! We moved to the country, about 30 minutes away from where we lived (for over 30 years) and raised our children (now in their 30’s). We are on 4 acres with 1 acre being a pond with turtles, fish, ducks, & herons. Front yard has a deer family of 6 that visit nightly. Never thought this city girl would love the country! I love the change of pace and so I know your excitement and the adventure of moving to a new place. Wishing you & your family a ton of happiness with a lot of great things to come your way 🌺
Thank you so much, and I sure enjoy the country too! I love the slower pace and the great outdoors. 😍
Congrats on the move and new home. Love your positive attitude and can’t wait to see the house when you are ready. Yes kids do grow SO fast. Thanks for all the deals that help with that along the way. I can’t imagine how much money you have saved our family in 11+ years. 💗
Awww… you are so welcome. Thanks for the kind words!
Thats awesome, I hope you and your family will be happy in your new home. I just moved from Washington State to Arizona 2 weeks ago, the run up to the move was so stressful but its all worth it in the end. I ended up donating and selling quite a bit too.
Yes, it’s definitely nice to purge before moving! 🙌
Colin – I have been following you for years. I have had many moves also throughout my lifetime…
It has not always been easy on my children but they say they have learned from it….so that is a good thing!
Will you and your team still be staying together via technology? Wow – what a big change for you. Was it hard to get rid of
most of your things? I have already decided that when we move next time – I will get rid of most of our furniture and am trying to
downsize even now…
I want less things and a simpler life.
You are amazing my dear!
Hi Janice!
Since the team and I work virtually and from all across the country, the move won’t impact Hip2Save. 🙌
And as far as getting rid of stuff, it honestly wasn’t too hard as it made the actual process of moving so MUCH less stressful and there is something so freeing about purging. 😀
Congratulations on your new home…I wish only the best for you and the family…I am so looking forward to seeing all the renovations and of course the decorating you do..I hope you took pics of the before ….Kids do grow up fast way to fast…I hope they are loving their new school..if they have your personality they will have absolutely no problems making friends…Good Luck!!!
You are so sweet. Thanks for brightening my day with the kind words! 😀
Welcome to Reno Collin! I hope you and your family love it there. We lived there for several years and my parents live and SIL in Spanish Springs. There’s a brand new Home Goods in SS too!! Hugs
WooHoo! I love Home Goods! 🙌 Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Congratulations on your move and new house. You are an amazing woman! Keep looking up and you will always be ahead. An early Happy Birthday to you, Too!
Thank you SO much! 😃