Here we go

This may be a premature discussion, as we don't yet know what will be considered a loss in the walls here or not, but here we go.

Just as we are getting our money on track, we are tested. We are ultra-serious about not spending money that is not for absolute necessities, emergencies, or being directed to debt, but we are presented with an opportunity.

Our basement is not insulated. It is "finished", but when the previous owners finished it, they put paneling up over the cement block. There is no insulation in our walls downstairs, at least not on the bottom half of the wall.

We now have an opportunity, at little cost to us, to upgrade. The carpet has all been ripped out and will all be replaced under our homeowner's insurance. We don't really know about the walls yet. But the question is, do we spend the money, probably $1-2000 to put up new studs over the old walls and put in insulation?

I'll put up a poll, but here is what you would need to know:

• The money spent will most likely have to go on a credit card.
  
• The additional insulation will lower our heating and cooling bills considerably.
  
• We don't use the basement much because it is so cold. Pants and I sleep down there, but that's about it. We might gain the family room back as usable space for our family by doing this. Handy in a Minnesota winter to have additional space to keep the stir-crazies at bay, for sure. Also, there is a gorgeous wood-burning fire-place down there that we don't use because we're never down there.
• My parents would be able to stay here when they come with little or no trouble at all, instead of renting a hotel room or staying somewhere else.