Still, there are few select items that have jumped to the top of my "I Really Want To Buy A New One" list.
A Refrigerator:
Casa 26 has a dirty little secret. Our fridge broke a long long time ago. The freezer works, but the fridge is forever gone to us. I did lots of googling to see if the problem was easily/cheaply fixable, but since it's a relatively old fridge we finally decided it wasn't worth it. Instead, we've been making do with a smaller fridge (just a smidge bigger than a mini-fridge). Since it's just the two of us it hasn't been bad, but it's about time we get a replacement already.
New Washer & Dryer:
When we moved into our house a washer and dryer were not included. In a move of enormous generosity, my parents upgraded their set and gave us their old ones. However, even at the time the washer and dryer were over 10 years old and now, even more years later, their age is starting to show. A load of clothes easily takes two hours to go through the wash now and the dryer, while functional, is falling apart. It's time to upgrade before something catches fire or floods.
A Gigantic Sofa:
We spend a lot of time in our family room/basement. We watch TV there, eat a lot of meals there (we're those kind of people), I blog there, and generally veg out down there whenever possible. Mr. T and I are not alone however when doing these things. Certain dogs like to join us on the sofa and it has a tendency to get a little cramped.
A great big sectional sofa with a chaise would be a dream come true. Something big enough for two adults + 3 pitties is the new standard to beat. If only furniture stores would let me bring the pitties to tush test couches...
I always have a hard time pulling the trigger when it comes to big purchases. Even in cases like this, where the things are so obviously needed, I have trouble because we've been able to "make do" with what we have. Please tell me I'm not the only one like this - anyone else have trouble spending money on big ticket items? I like to research the heck out of things before any big purchase. It took me a long time finally feel comfortable putting out the money for a new laptop and floors and I have no doubt I'll agonize over these purchases too.
Refrigerator images found here. Washer & Dryer image found here via YHL.
I have the hardest time just pulling the trigger on a big thing we really need, like a stove! Though I have no problem spending 50-100 bucks here or there which would add up to a stove in no time if I saved it.. hmm.
ReplyDeleteSo would it make you jealous to know that we just bought everything on your list for our new house?
ReplyDeleteKari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
Friese - I'm the same way. I can spend $50 eight times and not think twice about it, but $400? That's risky!
ReplyDeleteKari - YES!!!
Oh we are the same way. Our washer/dryer are on their last leg, they are over 15 years old at this point. But new ones are so expensive :-P
ReplyDeleteI'm with you - I shop for MONTHS before I'm really comfortable with a big purchase. I find that once I've done SO much research, I reach this threshold of annoyance with my own inability to make a choice, and I finally do choose. And as I've spent a LOT of time deliberating, and examining my choices, I haven't yet felt regretful of any of the decisions I've made (buying a new AC unit, new dryer, new couch, new table - all in 2 years!). Good luck and don't stress, you'll come home with the right things =)
ReplyDeleteWhen I bought my Condo (foreclosed), it only came with a dishwasher. I'm still not sure if it works all that well, but it gets the job done most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI started actively looking for condo's in March, and closed on May 19th. I probably spent a good chunk of time between those months looking at appliances. To be honest, I was extremely overwhelmed, there are TOO many options available out there! What I ended up doing was going into a local appliance store (not a major chain) and looked around their showroom. I found appliances that fit my needs, are energy efficient and within my price range. Figuring out that number wasn't too hard. I just figured what my monthly expenses were, and that determined what my budget was. Good luck, and have fun!
Patty - New ones are expensive! Especially the really cool looking ones...
ReplyDeleteApril - I do that too, and you're right, it does work out in the end. I do sometimes wish I could just "wing it," but with my luck I'm sure I'd end up with a horrible deal - so I stick to overly researching my purchases :)
Jen - There are too many options! And sometimes it's impossible to tell what the differences between each thing are supposed to be and if the price difference is worth it. Ugh, to many choices to make...
Yes and no. :)
ReplyDeleteI would never be able to live with a mini fridge in our house, so I'd spend that money in a heartbeat! We did upgrade our washer and dryer a few years ago, and like you I researched a ton. We ended up with a Black Friday deal and spent half the usual cost... Made it worth it to me.
We are in the exact same boat as you when it comes to a couch. Ours has rips and stains from the dogs and it is a tight squeeze to fit us plus the pooches on it. We're waiting to pull that trigger until we move into our more long term home since we're going to want a BIG sectional and that wouldn't fit in this house.
I say go for at least one of those. I highly recommend HHGregg for appliances, FYI. They have GREAT prices and we enjoyed working with them.
it is hard biting the bullet, but those are always the purchases in the end that you are happiest with!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Foot - Thanks for the rec about HHGregg, I think we might have to check out what they have.
ReplyDeleteCassie - It's true! I know once we go for it I'll love the new stuff :)
I had my new mattress on the floor for over two months before I finally managed to make a decision about a frame to put it on...
ReplyDeletehttp://bwpaws.blogspot.com
We just had central AC put in our unit (it used to be the rental unit before we purchased the house). Not only was it agonizingly expensive, there's nothing to ooohhh and aaahhh over at all. No shiny. No glowy buttons. No hip new color. We haven't even used it yet because the day it was installed the temperatures dropped from the 90s to the 50s. I feel your pain!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. I have a list longer than my arm of big-ticket things I'd love but can't pull the trigger on. And then of course there are lots of small things I buy kind of willy-nilly instead of saving for the fridge, etc.
ReplyDeleteour fridge is probably from the 50s (and not in the cute vintage way), and we have been dragging our feet on replacing it. no idea why, though. we should just do it!
ReplyDeleteIn Black & White - That's about my speed too, lol.
ReplyDeleteT2 - That's the way the weather goes sometimes, right? How annoying that you can't even enjoy your new unfun purchase?!
Cait - If only we could stop all the small purchases we'd all have the money we want for the big things. Maybe a support group? "Help Me Stop Buying Little Pretty Things" Anonymous?
loveandaleash - I was going to say one of those cute 50s fridges would be adorable! It's hard to replace stuff though when you can get by with what you have!
Possibly the only good thing about renting is that we don't have to worry about "big" purchases. Except our couch and cofee table, which we actd like were life and death decisions...
ReplyDeletewww.twogradstudentsandapittie.blogspot.com
You are definitely not the only one! Our television needs to be replaced. The screen is getting all these little white dots all over it. They increase in number every day. But until I can't see anything anymore, I refuse to look into replacing it.
ReplyDeleteA larger couch would also be awesome, if only we had the space. We're those kind of people too. :-P
Look at it as an adventure!
I hate spending good money on big ticket items like that. I'm searching for a new washer and dryer now because our free lease on the ones from the complex is about to expire on them. I'm looking on Craigslist to see if I can find one for cheap because honestly, it's going in the basement right now so why do I need a pretty one? I'm going to save those for the upgrade I do when we buy a house.
ReplyDeleteI am right there with ya!! I can't even bring myself to spend the money on a new digital camera right now, even though mine's a piece o' crap. And when we had to buy ALL new appliances after moving in the house, I about died, but it was a necessity. So I can totally understand how you're feeling about these big-ticket items. But it sounds like you could really use them - especially the fridge and washer/dryer. I'd say you've "made do" with them long enough!
ReplyDeleteTush testing with the pitties.... hee hee!
2 Grad Students - There are many times I wish I still rented... although I'm sure I'd agonize over buying decisions like the sofa anyway :)
ReplyDeleteKristine - lol, when our TV went out Mr. T couldn't go a week without it. I think he was shopping around for a new one within the hour...
Jessica - I'm struggling with whether we should really get "pretty ones" too. As long as they get our clothes clean it shouldn't really matter what they look like right?
Amanda - I agree! Now I just have to find something worth spending all that money on...