We're getting quotes from contractors we vetted through Angie's List. That's no guarantee, but it helps. I'll look into any local credits; that could certainly take the sting out of it.

On the upside, DH is really handy (he's an electrical engineer). He does most of our electrical, plumbing and carpentry, plus most of our car repairs. So, we save a lot of money that way. I don't think he feels comfortable with the windows though, although in truth, I'm not sure he even considered it.

Assuming the windows are done right, I do trust it'll be worth it in the long run. Every big ticket on a house is difficult to stomach. Like I said, we're aggressive savers, and we specifically saved for this. It's just the way it goes. Next year, it's the furnace and A/C. Yay!