March 31st, 2005 - Saving money?
I wrote a few days ago about how I’m saving about half of my allowance each month and sending it off to a DRiP account. I’m trying to decide whether to continue to do that or to save it for shorter-term items. Ever since we heard about them, we’ve wanted a Dyson vacuum. Our current vac works just fine, however, and we can’t justify spending around $500 on a vac. (We’d get the Animal, as we have four pets!) But if I saved my $50 for a year, I’d have enough for it. Or for the patio furniture we dream about every summer. (I’d buy it at the end of the summer on sale!)
I can’t figure out which one to do. We can get along without these items, but it would be fun to save my money towards something specific that we’ve long wanted. Both things would certainly get a LOT of use. (We vacuum about once a week, and we’d sit outside a lot more if we had something other than 2 plastic chairs.) But we do not NEED either item. We’ve gotten along for years without them and can continue to get along without them. What’s the balance for us? ::sigh::
March 31st, 2005 at 4:52 pm EST
Have you looked at the Dyson vacuum in person? Not that I’m endorsing your desire for a new vac, but once I saw one at a vac store, I realized it wasn’t for me. The design seemed too plastic and too complicated. The salesperson (who was very knowledgeable) showed me the different ports where eventually you’d need to clean them out and it looked like a chore.
Again, not that I openly support $400+ vacuums (although I crave one myself), I looked at the Miele upright vacs, they also have canisters — it appeared to be a great machine. Our vac shop has a “take it home and try it out” return policy, and at some point, I might have to get one and put it head to head with our now-old and rickety Hoover. The Miele is clean and pristine and has a very pretty German design.
I also am cravning patio furniture right now. DH and I are actually going a little batty. He built a lovely brick patio last year and now it’s the big decision how much to put into the furniture — and whether to buy now or to wait for the sales — I’d guess they start in July? I have my eye on Restoration Hardware — oh, the insane prices! DH is picky and has not been pleased with anything at the discount stores, although I wish he would settle and we could get an inexpensive set.
Anyway, about the DRIPS, that’s a great plan. For my splurge purchases I like to kind of figure that we’ll do a few things per year, and then wait on several more things. For the house, I have an Excel sheet with all our “want to do” projects and budgets, and that gets reviewed and re-prioritized periodically. Maybe you should take every other or every third month and put it toward your “now” spending? But it also depends on how you feel about your investing progress so far.
April 1st, 2005 at 1:49 pm EST
I haven’t actually looked at a Dyson in person. We’ve not really been in the market, so it’s just been word of mouth from others (and the commercial that promises great suction). Hmmm…..
Thanks for the ideas, particularly the save one month spend one month. I might consider that! I’ve really been dreaming of the Alaska vacation recently, so putting the money into the DRiP towards that sounds really nice. I can live without the vac and furniture, really. (On the other hand–the vacation will be two weeks long and the stuff would last years. But 4.5 years after our honeymoon, we’re still dreaming of going back so I guess it’s an important place for us!)
April 4th, 2005 at 7:11 am EDT
I have an apx.$100 vacuum, and it suits my current needs, but I could easily see upgrading to one twice as expensive. Or more. But certainly not those $1000 models some try to sell you…
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