Many years ago, I painted my house, most of the inside.  It was a moderately sized 4 bedroom, and I love painting it.  I used different techiques like sponging and plastic wrap to give the appearance of wallpaper, and it turned out great.

A few years later, as my girls grew, they wanted to paint their own rooms, which they did.  

Even in tough times, we all make the best choices we can, and surprisingly, sometimes the less expensive choice is the most fun.