One of the biggest concerns I hear from people who are building a custom home is going over budget. (You can probably relate!) But here’s what I want you to know … it is possible to build within — or very close to — budget. It all comes down to knowing where to splurge and save when building.
More specifically, you need to know where YOU should splurge and where YOU should save based on YOUR family’s priorities.
That’s the part most people skip.
They Google “where to splurge and save when building” (you probably did that and landed on this post) … then they apply the generic list to their own home build.
Here’s the problem with this … generic lists don’t take into account what is best for YOUR family.
In this episode, I’m going to walk you through the simple framework I use to help my clients make smarter budget decisions, and I’ll share a few examples of the best places, in general, to splurge and save.
But, again, these are general lists, and they’ll only get you so far.
The real magic happens when you apply what you learn in this episode to YOUR home and YOUR priorities. And I will tell you exactly how to do that!
Listen to this episode or continue reading the blog post below.
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
Free On-Demand Class: 4 STEPS TO BUILD WITHIN BUDGET AND WITHOUT REGRETS!
Where to Splurge and Save When Building
Before we get into examples, let’s talk about the simple rules for splurging and saving when building (or renovating) a home. These do apply to renovating a home, too, just so you know.
The rule for splurging when building
Whatever is a must-have for YOU is where you should splurge.
Invest in things that are very important to you and/or difficult (or expensive) to change later.
The rule for saving when building
Whatever YOU don’t care about that much is where you should save.
Cut back on things that aren’t very important to you and/or are easy (or inexpensive) to upgrade later.
That’s it.
Two rules.
Splurge on your must-haves and save on things that aren’t important to your family (or can be added later).
Applying the Rules to Your Custom Build
This is very simple in theory — but applying it to your home, with your budget, and your family’s priorities does take a little digging. And, unfortunately, many people skip this step.
That’s how SO. MANY. PEOPLE. end up either significantly over budget or, on the flip side, within budget but with a ton of regrets and ‘I wish I had done that differently’ moments.
I don’t want either of those outcomes for you, and I’m sure you don’t want them either.
The key is to really understand the best places for YOU to splurge and save on YOUR home.
I’m going to give you some examples of the best places to splurge and save, but keep in mind … these are all just general ideas.
It doesn’t mean all of these are the best places for YOU to splurge or save.
It all comes down to what is most and least important to YOU in YOUR house.
Best Places to Splurge When Building a House
Let’s first talk about some of the best places to splurge when you’re building a custom home.
These are some of the most common areas where splurging makes sense because they tend to be high-impact, high-visibility, or very hard (and expensive) to change after construction.
1. Splurge on Your Kitchen
Your kitchen is the heart of your home, and one of the best places to invest for two reasons:
- It delivers a strong return on investment (ROI) when you sell, and
- It’s where you (and your family) will likely spend most of your time
So you want this to be a place you love and feel comfortable in.
Some great places to splurge in your kitchen include high-quality kitchen cabinets and countertops, a large kitchen island, a butler’s pantry, upgraded plumbing fixtures, and high-end appliances.
2. Splurge on Your Primary Bathroom
Like your kitchen, a well-designed primary bathroom holds its value, and it’s a space you want to feel comfortable in every single day.
The goal is quality, so consider splurging on high-quality cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, and light fixtures.
A high-quality, beautiful primary bathroom will hold its value … and it’ll make you happy daily.
3. Splurge on Ceiling Height
High ceilings make a home feel more spacious and luxurious, and they’re nearly impossible to change later.
So if high ceilings (or sloped ceilings or vaulted ceilings) are important to you, this is a great place to splurge.
4. Splurge on Exterior Materials
Your exterior is your home’s first impression and its first line of defense against the elements.
Investing in high-quality exterior finishes pays off in beautiful curb appeal, the longevity of your home, and the overall look of your home.
If possible, invest in the highest-quality exterior finishes you can afford.
WHERE TO SPLURGE WRAP UP
Ok, these are just four examples of great places to splurge.
You can find my full curated list (plus the places to splurge within each room) inside my brand-new SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠, which I will tell you about in a minute.
But first, let’s look at the other side of the equation and talk about the best areas to save in a custom home.
Best Places to Save When Building a House
Here are some general areas where you can typically cut costs without sacrificing what matters most.
1. Save on Secondary Bedrooms
Kids and guests don’t need massive bedrooms with high-end finishes.
You want these rooms to be comfortable and functional, but they don’t need high-end light fixtures and flooring, or custom trim work.
Keep them simple, and you can always upgrade them later.
2. Save on Secondary Bathrooms
Aside from your powder room (which guests will see), your secondary bathrooms are a great place to cut costs on finishes, square footage, and fixtures.
You can choose basic plumbing fixtures and lighting fixtures.
Another option is to choose a standard tub/shower combo and just hide it with a stylish shower curtain.
You can also opt for stock or semi-custom cabinetry and lower-end countertops to cut costs.
3. Save on Cabinet Hardware
Cabinet hardware is one of the easiest and least expensive upgrades you can make after you move in.
Opt for budget-friendly knobs and pulls now, and swap them out when your budget allows.
4. Save on Unfinished Spaces (i.e. Basement or Bonus Room)
You can save tens of thousands by leaving your basement or bonus room unfinished.
You can rough in the plumbing and structural needs during construction, and then come back to finish the space later when your budget allows.
That’s exactly what I did with my basement.
💡Pro Tip: If you plan to finish your basement (or a bonus room above your garage) later, add a second staircase in your garage during construction so that in the future, contractors can access your basement or bonus room without walking through your home. This was a game-changer when we finished our basement!
Feeling Overwhelmed? Download my FREE CUSTOM HOME BUILD START GUIDE!
Why Googling “Where to Splurge and Save” Won’t Work for Your Home Build
You can find lists like I just gave you all over the internet.
And the lists are helpful, BUT …
A general list doesn’t know that you have three kids and need functional secondary bathrooms.
It doesn’t know that your husband has always dreamed of a chef’s kitchen, or that you’d trade a finished basement for better flooring in the main living areas.
It doesn’t know that you have a child with special needs, and the most important thing is making sure your house is safe and comfortable for your child.
It doesn’t know that you are at retirement age and want your forever home to be a safe haven for you to age in place.
General lists don’t know YOUR family’s priorities.
There’s a big difference between a generic list and a real plan.
What is a real Splurge + Save Plan?
A real Splurge + Save Plan is built around YOUR family — your lifestyle, your needs, your non-negotiables, and obviously, your budget.
A real Splurge + Save Plan gives you a beacon and guide to refer back to every single time a decision comes up throughout your build, so you’re not winging it when deciding if something is worth investing in.
You already know what is most and least important to YOUR family.
Create Your Own Splurge + Save Plan
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start making confident, intentional budget decisions, my brand-new SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ will walk you step-by-step through this.
If you’ve bought my previous planner, this new, improved planner is the original on steroids!
It’s not a PDF download (like the old one).
It’s not a static checklist.
It’s a MINI online course (very mini, so no pressure) with instant, lifetime access.
It’s designed to walk you through the entire process, from learning the full SPLURGE + SAVE FORMULA℠ to building out your own personalized SPLURGE + SAVE PLAN.
Plus, there is an AI SPLURGE + SAVE COACH℠ trained specifically by me … it coaches how I coach and follows the exact SPLURGE + SAVE FORMULA℠, so you have access to 24/7 coaching to help you anytime you get stuck on where to splurge and save.
WHAT’S INSIDE THE SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠
I’m going to walk you through everything inside the new, improved SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠.
(psst … if you’re a BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ member, you already have access to all of this in your portal, so no need to purchase) ☺️
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE:
SPLURGE + SAVE FORMULA℠
The SPLURGE + SAVE FORMULA℠ is the exact same framework I’ve used with nearly 1,000 people as they navigate the budget side of building a custom home.
You’ll get the full curated list of where to splurge and save when building, plus a look at where I personally chose to invest and cut back in my own home to give you some real-life ideas and inspiration to get your wheels turning.
GUIDED WORKBOOK PROMPTS
The Guided Workbook Prompts are where the real magic happens!
These step-by-step prompts walk you through your family’s priorities, lifestyle, and must-haves so that by the time you finish, you have YOUR personalized SPLURGE + SAVE PLAN in hand.
Not a generic list you found on the internet … YOUR list, built around YOUR family’s priorities.
BONUS: 24/7 SPLURGE + SAVE AI COACH
The SPLURGE + SAVE AI COACH℠ is your 24/7 brainstorming partner for every home build budget decision.
It’s trained on how I think and coach, and is available whenever you need it, day or night.
AI Carrie is always on and ready to coach you through tough budget decisions!
BONUS: BUDGET CLARITY BUNDLE
The Budget Clarity Bundle is a deep dive into the financial side of building.
It covers everything from unexpected costs to construction loans to getting on the same page as your spouse, and more.
Honestly, it’s all the info I wish someone had told me before we broke ground on our custom home.
NEXT STEPS
Building a custom home doesn’t mean you have to go over budget.
It also doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your must-haves to stay on budget.
It doesn’t have to be either-or.
You can check out generic lists online for ideas, but the key is getting crystal clear on what truly matters to YOU — before the decisions start flying at you.
Remember the simple framework:
Splurge on what’s most important to YOU and/or hard to change later.
Save on what’s least important to YOU and/or easy to upgrade later.
And if you want help creating your own SPLURGE + SAVE PLAN, you’ll definitely want to invest in the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠! 🙌
