At the very end of 2025, my wife and I bought our first home, a 1907 Craftsman in the heart of Portland, Oregon. It’s a beautiful old house, listed on the National Historic Registry, and is largely unchanged from the day it was built. We’re now simultaneously updating and restoring the home with a limited budget, big ideas, our own style, and plenty of sweat equity. Today, our house is starting to feel simultaneously old and new, which is very much the goal. Many states have a smart thermostat rebate program through local gas and power companies, and right now we’re earning around $10 off each monthly bill for having a smart thermostat in the house.