My investment... tool for frugality?

**mommy4ever** · 05-28-2009, 11:34 PM

I've been blogging about my latest acquisition. And thought I'd share.

My family has invested in a Vitamix. This is a high end blender, that comes with a pretty hefty price tag. I have wanted on for the last 15 or 16 years. Since I first saw it, it has come down about $1300, seriously. DD10 and I had seen one demo'd before Christmas, and I fell in love. But I just didn't see it in my future.

Well, dh was talking about a blender some one had that made slurpies. So I told him about this one, that did so much more. It planted the seed.

So it came up again, and he said, if I could sell his car over his bottom line, we'd be able to get it. So when it was time to sell his car, I sold it for several hundred over what he'd bought it for, so I was able to order my Vitamix.

I really would have loved to get the most recent model with all the accessories, but this time when I went online they had refurbished ones, last years model that came with the same 7 year warranty as the "brand new" ones. So I decided to order that one, a savings of $100 over the new "last years" model and $200+ less than the new model. Plus I found a coupon for free shipping. So it was a decent deal, but still $400...lol.

Dh was skeptical, would it be worth it? I thought it would. Not only does it do normal blending, make awesome smooth slurpies, it does smoothies, ice cream, hot beverages, alcoholic beverages, hot soups(it can cook it right in the blender), cooked puddings(no danger of scorching), mixes batters, bread, syrups, fondues(heated, then transfer to warming dish), cooked sauces, cold sauces, nut butters, nut milks, mayo. The list goes on and one.

It arrived, and dh looked at it, still skeptical. I made a dessert that day. And he loved it. He comments that he figures we'd use it mostly for desserts. As long as we shopped right, and smart, it would be a good investment.

I kinda laughed to myself.

Day one, made veggie soup, fed me and my 3 little charges, left overs I had for snacks the next day. Made 2 batches of Strawberry freeze(cross between frozen yogurt and a smoothie), that went over really really well.

Day 2, made broccoli cheddar soup, fed me and 3 charges.

Day 3(today), made an Orange Julius type drink for the girls and I for part of breakfast. They loved it. After they went to school, made a vanilla pudding. Fed all 4 of my charges, me, and dd12. (makes 2 cups). In the afternoon, made smoothing(strawberry coconut...mmmm) for dd12 and myself, and a strawberry yogurt on for dh. Tonight made vanilla icecream for all the kids and have in the freezer for tomorrow. Oh, and dh had taken my girls to the store for slurpies and my dayhome child came to me early, so I thru in some icecubes and some fruit punch crystals and made her a slurpie too. She didn't even realize it wasn't from the store, I even had some peper cups that were left overs from a team function.

So, there is limitless possibilities. Even more if I get the dry blade, then it can grind grain to flour and many many other functions.

Was it cheap, no. But it won't take long to save us on things we were buying. Smoothies are $4-$6, each. We're a family of 6, that adds up fast. Slurpies are $1.50 each. Cooking soup in there is awesome, 1 it's fresh, 2 it's FAST, 3 it doesn't heat to house, 4. uses way less power.

It'll pay for itself. Left over smoothies get frozen into containers for an icecream treat the next day, or into popsicles for a frozen treat(way healthier).

I'm sure I'll be spending more on fruit and frozen fruit, but that is a whole food, not processed. That is worth it. And is cheaper than buying these things made for us.

So for any one considering buying one, at this point I'd say for sure! Go for it if you have the cash saved up for something like that. It is very worth it. I'll update this in a few weeks to see how it is going.

But for a childcare provider that feeds 4 extras every day, it's a huge time saver, it's feeding the kids good wholesome foods, and very cost effective.

**mauimagic** · 05-28-2009, 11:41 PM

Mommy4ever, I am so enjoying your continued enthusiasm for your Vitamix

- I still need to use mine.

**mommy4ever** · 05-28-2009, 11:47 PM

Oh, you HAVE to! Such a shame to let it sit.

Today's smoothie was amazing. Strawberries, coconut cream, pineapple, banana. No added sugar, an a little milk. It was amazing. YOU should be able to get some amazing pineapples! I remember the ones my mom brought back fresh, made our bought ones taste like card board.

There is also a pina colada smoothie too! ( i think I'll make that tomorrow).

I'm liking it big time. I love the blended soups. They are creamy, and the raw veggie soup is 29 calories per cup. Perfect weightloss snack or side dish. I save the left overs in a jar and heat it in a mug when I have the munchies. To me, that one kinda tastes a little like Clamato juice. Not sure why, it might be great cool to drink too.

YOU NEED TO USE IT!!!!! Take the time to try it. It is an amazing machine.

**rowdy35** · 05-30-2009, 12:56 PM

wow, I think you will get your money's worth out of it ! Sounds really great. My spouse has a penchant for slurpees from 7-11 so I know it would save us money too ! Very cool

**xtena** · 05-30-2009, 03:52 PM

VITAMIX. Thank you. I had been shopping the other day and mentioned a 'special' juicer (and soup maker, ice cream maker, blender...) to my daughter, that I've always heard rave reviews about but never actually seen in person. For the life of me I couldn't remember the name.

**MommyBliss** · 05-30-2009, 04:38 PM

That is AWESOME. I'd love one, but it's many moons off, lol. Thank you for sharing.

**HandyMom** · 05-30-2009, 11:48 PM

Does yours seem to run really LOUD? It scared my kid. It scared me too. I think I used mine once only. It was as loud as a lawnmower and I thought I smelled it smoking. I was supposed to flip the switch on it for a few seconds and maybe I let it run a teeny bit too long. I bought it new many years ago. It's tucked away somewhere in the basement, in it's box.

**mommy4ever** · 05-31-2009, 05:23 PM

Yeah, it's pretty loud..lol. I've not smelled smoke or anything. It has run up to 6 minutes straight, as long as it's on high it doesn't over heat. It has a safety, tho, if it starts to it shuts down.

**RaineyDaye** · 05-31-2009, 05:29 PM

I'm not reading this. I'm NOT reading this. I'm not reading this! Oh, darn, too late, now I want one, too. But my dehydrator was my big purchase for the year, and I'm very happy I got it, so I'll just put the Vitamix on my wish list...

**mommy4ever** · 05-31-2009, 08:18 PM

OH RaineyDaye! I love it. I missed it this morning as I didn't have it to make a smoothie at the campground. We made one as soon as we came home..lol.

It's a pity that some might have them and aren't using such a fabulous piece of kitchen equipment. I've yet to try all the other recipes. Just a few. I can see nutbutter next!

**Debbie-cat** · 05-31-2009, 08:28 PM

You make is sound like so much fun but it will be a long time coming before I can afford one! But for now, I will enjoy reading your adventures with it.