2 Slow and steady wins the race

We have been working on finishing our basement for 7 or so years. Although it is still not yet what I'd call livable space, we haven't gone into any debt...our #1 priority. We've saved extra cash in a jar and pay for what we can each year. Here's what we've done during each of the past few years:

1. ran heating duct work
2. framed walls
3. ran rough plumbing
   
4. ran rough electrical wiring & installed tub/shower
   
5. sheetrock & mud/taping
6. primed all the walls & painted ceilings, closets, and 2 rooms
7. hung doors, built closet shelves, hung casing & base boards, laid bathroom floor/set toilet

Last month my brother-in-law Mike came and helped up with the finish work. Nate learned how to build the closet shelves from him. Mike also laid our bathroom floor. I had planed on tile, but the cement floor was very uneven. Instead of re-pouring cement and leveling it, we opted to try a new product called 'fiber floor'. It is a cousin to vinyl, but it is much thicker and squishier, not to mention that it looks much nicer. I love the look and it was way cheaper than tile (not to mention time!).

Hasn't Nate done great on the closet shelves the past month? I love them and can't wait to fill them up and close the doors.

This afternoon I did a little shopping for tonight's activity while Nate was gone (on a scrap run to Idaho). In preparation for my Mother, sister Maren, and her kids staying tomorrow night, after dinner tonight I:

• caulked the tub/shower
• hung a shower rod and curtain
• wired 4 light switches
• wired 3 light fixtures
  

Even though the spaces look ALMOST DONE, there is plenty left to do:

• 1.5 closets still need shelves
• touch up paint in bathroom and 2nd bedroom
  
• putty nail holes and caulk ALL trim work
• putty & touch up paint closet shelves
  
• paint ALL trim, 6 doors, and 5 pairs of bi-folds (need to buy the bi-folds $$)
• paint all hall ways, the great room, and 1 more bedroom
  
• buy and install 6 door knobs, towel racks, & toilet paper holder
  
• buy & install rings & bulbs for 17 can lights
• buy & install 4 smoke detectors
  
• buy & install 3 wall sconce lights
  
• wire countless light switches, outlets, and phone/tv jacks
• figure out what to do with 3 window sills
  
• hire out the bathroom cabinet & cultured marble counter/sinks ($$$)
• buy & install the bathroom fan, mirror & over-sink light
  
• CARPET the entire floor ($$$$$)
• buy furnishings, including the projection theater we wired for ($$$$$$$$$)

Our initial thought were to just finish it all (besides the last item above) before the snow flies. I really wanted to have a space for the kids to play in the cold weather. But since the scrap metal market's bottom dropped out last month and the grant my job is funded by didn't get re-funded, it looks like we are back on the 10+ year plan.