Saving or spending? And how did I end up in a Cold War over the color pink??

I have a talk with a mortgage person net week to see what my options are and in preparation I have reviewed my spending habits of 2012. I like t think off myself as pretty good in saving money, yet the facts are that I didn't save much in 2012.

Because...

Wait for it...

I enjoy doing fun stuff and I did a maximum amount of amazing things in 2012. Like learning how to dive, learning how to sail, going to Istanbul and meet up with Ozma, after twelve years of second and costume buying, getting me a custom made Bella and two Emans, learning horseback riding, going on a snow holiday for the frst time. And don't forget my braces, they are coming of in 2012 but are still costing me 500€ a year in consults. I went out with friends for dinner more often and am going to dance performances in a theatre, something I didn't do before by lack of resources. In short, 2012 was a decadent blast.

Come to think of it, I'm amazed that I managed to save money at all! The reason why I could afford all this? Because I sublet one room, making my house dirty cheap compared to the usual price for size and location. If I buy a house, my monthly payments will go up to about 1000€ a month, double of what I pay now. As much as I want my own place, I'm not sure if I am ready to leave the financal freedom that my current rented house is offering behind me. So many things I'd like to do, so little time...

The reason why I am looking into buying is because I hate the commute. However, the main reason is my new subletter as I figured out last weekend while I was complaining to my friends. I'm putting locks on the doors inside our house tomorrow, on request of my subletter (she requested for her door only, I don't think she'd think that I put locks on my doors too in response), meaning I'll get more privacy once all doors can be locked. The silent territorium fight that we have been in during the last couple of months is turning in my favor, due to me being home during the Christma holiday and thus putting my mark upon things, putting the locs up, adding the ikea table to the kitchen and last but not least, buying a new shower curtain for the bathroom that is Not Pink. That's right, our cold war consists out of me putting stuff in our house that is Not Pink and preferable Not White*. Hey, I paid my dues by living as a subletter in this house for over six years, living together with Cookiehunter for 4 years and doing some mayor home improvement over the last two years. I deserve to feel at home in my own house, screw this cold war, this is my place!**

The reason why I feel like she is trying to take over is because in the past three months, Barbie has asked me to:
Ask the landlord to redo our bathroom (uhm, no)
Demand a lock on her door through a whatsapp message (I agree because it is a reasonable request, though in a poor form)
Ask me for more cupboard space in the kitchen (I obliged)
She told me we could use her (pink) towels in the kitchen instead of my green/red/blue ones
Her wanting to put a laundrybasket in the bathroom (I agreed on condition that we both buy the same, closed laundry basket. Looking at each others dirty laundry every day is a bit TMI for me. She just updated me on how she is trying to find a white/pink one)
Her suggestion that I should buy a buy a new vacuumcleaner because she doesn't like the suction power of the current one(I did not agree with her request on account of me thinking my current vacuumcleaner works just fine. Also, it IS white)
Asked me if she could attach her laundry rack to the wall in the bathroom(request denied, on account of us having a shared foldable laundry rack that is blue)
Is hoping very much to replace the shower curtain by a white/pink one.
Her offering to help me with interior design choices in my space, becase she has an eye for it (sweet, but no thanks)
Is refusing all offers for shared plates/ cups/etc., and I suspect it is because she doesn't like my plain, practical crockery and cutlery

How to end this once and for all? Your suggestions are welcome and in reward I'll try to post some striking Cold War pictures from my house up here soon.

* my subletter loos like Barbie and everything she owns is pink and white, she tries to take over by putting moar pink and white stuff in the shared spaces. Go on, I'll put my tinfoil hat on and you can tell me I'm crazy

** ofcourse, Barbie deserves to feel at home in her room to. But shared spaces like the kitchen and bathroom should make us feel both at home.

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