Do you have a hard time with large purchases?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 03-12-2010, 11:00 AM

We got out tax return back on Thursday. We had planned on spending a good chunk of it on the kitchen.

I'm just having trouble letting go of all that cash.

It's not so bad when it's in little segments. But the problem is that the countertop, sink and faucet will eat up most of the check. I know that it'll make an improvement in the kitchen and that I'll make great use out of it. I just have this spending bug tugging at my sleeve, telling me not to do it.

I guess that if I don't spend the money, it'll never get done. But I like having that much money at my disposal. I just have trouble spending it.

Does anyone else feel the same way and for those who do, how do you cope?

**Greebo** · 03-12-2010, 11:20 AM

I'm about to spend $2,000 on new windows. As long as I get the *RIGHT* windows, I have no problem spending the money - we saved up for them and we need the windows.

**Russ** · 03-12-2010, 11:44 AM

Yes I have the same problem and I don't cope well at all. That money is just burning a hole in my savings acct and I can just see all the good things around the house I could do with it.

**Libby** · 03-12-2010, 12:00 PM

Weigh your options - are the choices for your home reno/decor suitable for your area? Or will your house be the only house really done up making your house not fit into the neighbourhood reasale market?

Example - former coworker bought a detached new sub division starter home. She upgraded to quartz or granite counters in kitchen and all bathrooms and laundry area downstairs. She put in marble tiles throughout the first floor - kitchen, dining and front entryway.

All the houses in the area have the basic laminate counters and ceramic tiles etc. I mean - good for her, its exactly what she likes and wants but knows she not going to live there forever to enjoy it.

Her bro is in real estate and even told her that when its time to sell, she's upgraded her house out of the area's market and will have a tough time. She's going to jack her price to try to recoup the money she's spent on upgrades. The area she is in is good for starter homes only...not long term living.

I hope that made sense.

And yes - I have issues parting with my $ too. I am planning on painting the lv rm and putting down laminate flooring vs new carpet. The carpet we have now - as ugly as it is - is in great condition. However, we had the sewer pipe replaced last month and they ended up cutting through more of it then originally quote to it needs to go. I think this year the lv rm will get a makeover

I'm just afraid to foot the bill!

**frugalfriend** · 03-12-2010, 01:07 PM

Yes, I have a hard time! Here's an example, off topic a bit, but my best friend just went out and bought a brand new car (her daughter recently totaled her car). I assumed she was going to get a low cost, used one with the insurance money. I know she will have payments for a VERY long time, and her husband's job is not too secure right now. Everyone is excited and congratulating her and I just feel SICK about it. Is that weird? I should be happy for her but I just feel awful about what a financial bind that car will be for her. Your situation is different - you are paying cash, planned for it, so go finish and enjoy your new kitchen!

**IntlMom** · 03-12-2010, 01:49 PM

um, I guess the correct answer shoud be that I should have a hard time with them...... but sadly, nope, I don't have a hard time - I should, but I don't.

example: about 15 years ago, dh and I were on vacation. We went looking at cars on day "for fun" and before we knew it, we had bought 2 brand new cars!!! crazy, I know, I should have felt bad. But I didn't. And, hey, it makes one doozie of a story 15 years later.

(I will say, however, that a healthy bit of "having a hard time letting go of all that cash" would have saved us a chunk of change, so maybe it's a good thing you are feeling that way!)

**imagine** · 03-12-2010, 02:08 PM

Hubby says that I'm the only person that can get buyer's remorse over a head of lettuce. ( you can substitute any other little thing for the word lettuce) so Yes, I have a hard time with big purchases.

I working on this.

**Siebrie** · 03-12-2010, 02:17 PM

Just think of all the really frugal things you will enjoy doing in your new kitchen! Plenty of nice clean surface space to make bread, cut mushrooms, prepare pies, divide meat into 1-meal portions for the freezer. You will enjoy doing those soooo much more than in your crappy kitchen now.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 03-12-2010, 02:25 PM

Yeah I guess I just have to let it go and look at the bright side of things.

I don't have this type of anxiety with things like electronics, so I guess it's really a fear of messing up? A kitchen's sort of permanent. The electronics, well, not as much.

But I know that as soon as I walk into Home Depot tomorrow, it won't bother me as much as it is now.

**NewLeaf** · 03-12-2010, 03:14 PM

Yes, I have a hard time deciding how to spend money and then a hard time letting it go....

We are looking at either a kitchen & bath redo or both of those and an addition. I really want the addition because we need need need the space. But I feel myself pulling back and saying "what can we just get by with".

But, once we explore the options and feel we have made a good decision then I'll be ok. That's the key for me - good information = good decision making.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 03-12-2010, 08:11 PM

This is sort of what we're at right now. Hubby wants to do the bathroom upstairs and I want to do the kitchen. The trouble, though, is that the bathroom would tack at least another $2400 onto the CC because all we have left is $2600 from the tax return.

I really want the bathroom done, but that's a huge chunk of money.

I told him that if he could give me a pricing list on all of the supplies we need, and we could do the bathroom for way less than $5k, I'd forgo the kitchen remodel. We're researching all of our options right now.

I wholeheartedly agree that good information = good decision making.

Originally Posted by NewLeaf

Yes, I have a hard time deciding how to spend money and then a hard time letting it go....

We are looking at either a kitchen & bath redo or both of those and an addition. I really want the addition because we need need need the space. But I feel myself pulling back and saying "what can we just get by with".

But, once we explore the options and feel we have made a good decision then I'll be ok. That's the key for me - good information = good decision making.

**mamamia** · 03-12-2010, 09:41 PM

Me? I'm the opposite! I have a hard time spending for the "small" stuff. That might sound nuts

, but it's because I know I should be saving for the "BIG" stuff and I usually want to kick myself for blowing it away on nonsense.

Once I have the money together for the big stuff, I have absolutely no problem spending it.

Now if I was going to Home Depot, I would be off to Ebay to win one of those 10% off coupons. I totally HAVE to know that I got the most for my money. Don't forget, HD accepts any comp coupons, and so does Lowes.

Hope you can relax about it.

I'm saving for a kitchen up-date myself. And I feel the same way as Siebrie. I think you'll enjoy yourself in a nice, new kitchen.

Let us know what you decide!

Theresa

**MomToTwoBoys** · 03-12-2010, 10:41 PM

This post brings up a good point. DH is concerned about putting stone countertops in ontop of older cabinets. Plus, we weren't sure how much the absolute best countertops was going to increase our resale value.

I told DH that even though I really, really, really hate laminate, I would be ok with it as long as it looked nice. My inlaws have laminate and theirs looks pretty ok. It would cost us about $1k less for the countertops, which I can use for paint and backsplash.

He approached me tonight, wanting to do the upstairs bathroom. I told him that either I would wait until we refinance the house in July to do that or we'd have to take out a HELOC. I don't think we can afford the HELOC, so our option might be to refinance for the same amount that we took out when we bought the house and use the money for the bathrooms and the roof, plus the furnace. I don't mind paying the same amount for a mortgage again as long as we can lock in a lower interest rate.

I don't want the house to stick out like a sore thumb in this neighborhood. There aren't a lot of people buying houses here that are looking for granite countertops.

So we're off to HD tomorrow to take a look around. The laminate is $39 per linear foot installed, which is about $640 for us. With a $539 sink and a $150 faucet, it makes it frugal and easier for us to update without feeling like we overspent.

Originally Posted by Libby

Weigh your options - are the choices for your home reno/decor suitable for your area? Or will your house be the only house really done up making your house not fit into the neighbourhood reasale market?

Example - former coworker bought a detached new sub division starter home. She upgraded to quartz or granite counters in kitchen and all bathrooms and laundry area downstairs. She put in marble tiles throughout the first floor - kitchen, dining and front entryway.

All the houses in the area have the basic laminate counters and ceramic tiles etc. I mean - good for her, its exactly what she likes and wants but knows she not going to live there forever to enjoy it.

Her bro is in real estate and even told her that when its time to sell, she's upgraded her house out of the area's market and will have a tough time. She's going to jack her price to try to recoup the money she's spent on upgrades. The area she is in is good for starter homes only...not long term living.

I hope that made sense.

And yes - I have issues parting with my $ too. I am planning on painting the lv rm and putting down laminate flooring vs new carpet. The carpet we have now - as ugly as it is - is in great condition. However, we had the sewer pipe replaced last month and they ended up cutting through more of it then originally quote to it needs to go. I think this year the lv rm will get a makeover

I'm just afraid to foot the bill!

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 03-14-2010, 09:45 PM

I have trouble spending money, too. I just hate spending anything more than about $50 (except for groceries). ERF.

Does your kitchen *need* the work? If it does...you should just do it. If it's just to make it pretty, then maybe go with your gut???

**Jilly** · 03-14-2010, 10:41 PM

Regardng making large purchases...I'm in the same predicament now that I've begun saving regularly. I really need a replacement sofa/loveseat...the one we have was bought used and is sooo uncomfortable. Even the dogs complain! Everytime I sit on it I tell myself that it's time to make the purchase, but then later when I contemplate using up my stash of cash, I reluctantly defer the purchase for another time. I just can't see myself forking over a savings that took me so long to discipline myself to save!! And I refuse to use a credit card and get back into debt.