Stress Level: HIGH Alert!

Stress is starting to eat me.

Just thinking about things (related to the wedding and future) causes me undue stress. I can't sleep soundly, I can't think straight, I have so many many many things on my head.

Since my announcement, MIL told Fiance and me to look for an interior designer (ID) - ID daw will help us pick out furnitures and other house related things. Their purpose is to tell us what goes well with what. What needs to be changed or improved. MIL also told me that I have to be involved with the renovations - so I will learn to love the house (whatever she meant by that)

And so I looked for an ID. Fiance and I have a friend who's an architecht (AR), and so I asked AR for some pics of his works, what he showed me are renderings a.k.a. 3D illustrations. They looked quite nice, and so I told Fiance. Fiance and I immediately went to his office to see what he's done. We also showed him the house and told him the things we wanted changed. He took notes, pictures and made a few suggestions.

Since MIL tasked us to look for an interior designer, I only considered the only one I know. ID1 is my friend from way back. I have to be honest, she's my only choice even if I haven't seen anything she's done. I sent her a text message asking for an estimate, she told me that she would get back to me after the holidays. And she did - she emailed it to me, and I sent it to Fiance.

Facts:

1) AR1 sent a quote via text message to Fiance amounting to 150K-200K

2) ID1 sent a formal proposal to Fiance and I amounting to 110K - I honestly was confused with the email. The wording was too technical and so I asked ID1 for a meeting, so we can be clear on the details.

3) AR1 sent a formal proposal thru email to Fiance - the amount was reduced to 80K and if Fiance can provide some more assistance, AR1 can lower it to 65K

4) ID1 was able to show us her works. Fiance was impressed. As for me, I already knew she was capable and indeed it showed in her works. Magaling talaga siya.

BUT - when MIL learned of ID1's rate - she found it too high. Since ID1 is a friend, I asked for additional discount - ID1 told me in all honesty that she can only go as far as 100K. I understood her. I mean with her caliber - she is actually worth so much more! But since I am a friend (trivia: according to her, I was the first one who declared that when she becomes an ID - my house will be designed by her! - I can't believe she remembered!) she gave me a price that is already presyong kaibigan.

So - what the hell is my problem?
My problems are:

1) If there was a budget involved - it should have been discussed FIRST.

2) I am NOT confident on AR1's capabilities - not at all. It's like this - you pay an ID, so they can feed you ideas. With AR1 - it's going to be the other way around, Fiance and I will have to give him ideas and in turn do all the research, AR1 will only execute for us.

3) I hate it when you compare two different things: like an Apple with an Orange! They're both fruits yes, they're both sweet and round - but they're entirely different in taste and appearance.

4) Fiance accused me of NOT considering a budget. Firstly - I never demanded anything except to change the wall colors and a rainshower showerhead. Its Fiance who wants a LOT of changes. I mean, don't accuse me of something that I haven't done!!

5) Friendship is NOT a bargaining chip to get what you want. It doesn't mean that when you're good good friends - you can dictate the price you want (or make them agree to a lower price that is beyond what they can offer)

6) BE REASONABLE - consider the inflation through the years and the current state of the economy. Do not reason with 'Kasi dati ganito lang ang price'.

XOXO
Miss B.