Kitchen remodels can be expensive. To get the best bang for your buck today and tomorrow, you need to know where to splurge and where to save. Here are some pointers.

Splurge on the stuff you don’t want to replace later. Make a list of all the items you plan to incorporate in your new kitchen and check off the ones that would be difficult and expensive to replace later. Lighting, for example, can be easily replaced — cabinets and countertops less so. These are the items to splurge on. You can save on everything else.

Consider the issue of wear as well. What items in your new kitchen will be used the most? The flooring? The countertops? The cabinetry? The sink? The cooktop? Splurge on the items that will need to stand up to a lot of wear.

If you bake little, you may be able to purchase a less expensive oven in favor of a more expensive cooktop. The higher the quality of the piece, the more you will pay for it, but the less likely it will break and need to be replaced.

Anything that will save you money in the long run is worth paying for now. Energy-efficient windows and appliances are a must in a kitchen remodel. Sure, they will cost more, but the savings over time will more than make up for the expense now.

Preferences and priorities also factor into the equation. Faucets can be easily replaced, but if you can’t envision your new kitchen without the pricey one you have your heart set on, you won’t be pleased with the results.

Perhaps you can have that faucet by cutting costs elsewhere on items that don’t mean as much to you — in the lighting or hardware, for example. Splurge on what matters most to you, whether that be a granite sink or a marble prep area.

Most homeowners do not have limitless budgets for their kitchen remodels. Once you have a budget, sit down and determine what matters most to you and where spending more would make the most sense.

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