Fed Up Being So Practical

I have never felt the need or desire to spend extravagantly on my house because I'd soon get bored with the way it looked and want a change. I'm also a very practical person and it would break my heart to see expensive fittings damaged or spoiled.
Luckily my DH and I agree on this and we can relax in our home knowing that the DGC can play as they like and we can soon get it clean and tidy when they've gone.

Could you buy some lovely expensive rugs to go on the laminated floor, or perhaps new curtains and gorgeous cushions.

Bluesmum what patio furniture did you go for?

When my dh was alive we always went for the practical “ no frills” option, as he hated “Wasting” money as he saw it. Due to his very prolonged illness, I had to take control of everything and at last I can indulge my more extravagant tastes! One of my indulgences was a beautiful set of patio furniture, really comfortable as well as being beautiful to look at and I have never regretted buying it, although dh would have wanted a three piece suite and dining table and chairs for the money it cost lol! Never regret spoiling yourself a little, you deserve it.

We have historically watched the pennies, but when we had a new kitchen we decided to plan it with everything we really wanted and see how much the total was. This was on the basis that I knew we would never look at the quote and think 'well that's not as much as we thought so let's spend a bit more on some upgrades'! You can always economize but people very rarely, in my experience, go the other way if it's a reasonable quote.

I must say at this point that the old kitchen was at least 30yrs old as it had been in the house 11yrs when we'd bought it 20yrs earlier. At the time we'd said "Oh, it'll do us for a couple of years." so in theory we'd had plenty of time to save up!

Engineered Wood does look good, has a different more solid sound from laminate but it does need looking after and it can chip! I'm going for Amtico for my hall when I get round to replacing carpeting.

I’ve found a way of combining practical & extravagant. Although I do still raise some plants from seed, I now spend much more on the garden. Recently, for instance, I realised that a new rhododendron would be just right for the far end. So I just went online and ordered it! The only thing which prevented me from ordering a larger one was the fact that I don’t think I could have dug a larger hole myself. In the past I would have waited, tried to raise from cuttings etc or bought a tiny one. I even have a tree on order, but practicality ruled my head with that, because I’d rather plant it myself than risk the damage a team of men might wreak on the border.
We all have our decorating regrets, but you’re quite right that we need to take our pleasures when and where we can. For now don’t look back, look forward. Enjoy your life.

Tizliz

Engineered wood is hard work, you need to polish it frequently . I can’t do it any more and with three dogs it is looking sad

I never polish mine! It still looks great!

I had lots of work done on my house many years ago and in retrospect lots of my decisions were ones I wouldn't take now. But I don't really care! Its still a house I like to live in and, to adapt a well known phrase: "No on on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more on their flooring!" It may be more about your allowing yourself to believe that you are ok and as deserving as anyone of good things - which you surely are. Be kind to yourself and accept the floor you chose, if you can.

I do think it’s generational my fil in his 80s very comfortable financially will spend hours on his computer sourcing an item until he gets it cheaper.

Polarbear2 - so true

Re reading this. Your mention of children dropping toys on it. Whenever I think in that way - and I do - I’m reminded of my mum sobbing as she cleaned my little brothers fingerprints off her door. He’d died the week before. She’d have given anything to have more fingerprints to clean. It reminds me there are more important things than a few dents and scratches. ❤️ (I still grumble tho ?)

I agree with Lucca on this point. We’ve had wooden flooring in our lounge and hallway and never polished it. Once a year it gets a clean with the special cleaning fluid that was provided on purchase, but in between times a brush and/or vacuum keeps it pristine, and occasional cleaning with a damp, not wet, mop, then drying it as necessary. I would think that polishing it would be dangerous, making it slippy to walk on?

Tizliz

Engineered wood is hard work, you need to polish it frequently . I can’t do it any more and with three dogs it is looking sad

I Have engineered wood in my hall and living room but went to laminate in the bedrooms . Wish I’d gone for broke and done all in wood. Have never polished it ?! Surely that would make it slippery? I Hoover it ...end of story, damp mop if absolutely necessary.

Thank you all so much for your comments, they makes sense. I also think Polarbear2 it stems back to my childhood when my DM did not have any spare cash in her pocket, it was only her and I, we struggled. Her dearest wish was to go down to the 'High Street" with £100 in her pocket just to spend on her. She never did it not even after she re-married and could afford to do so. I never want to feel like that. In this case it wasn't the expense of an engineered wood floor it def was because of practicality, didn't want our DGS's dropping toys on it and it getting damaged. However the damage is done now and I shall have to live with the laminate. However for purchases to come I will def go with my heart and not my head. Lesson learnt.

We always go for the cheaper option, well almost always, I wonder why? I can understand it when you are younger with a young family, but now? Agree with what you say BrightandBreezy!

pleasure ...not please

I'm exactly the same Berylsgranny. I do get enormous please being extravagant with the dgc and buying things for them I could never have afforded for dd when she was young.

However, when it comes to things for myself, dh or the house I always feel the need to shop around. Comes from being really broke when we were young but could definitely afford to treat ourselves a bit more now.

The only areas where I tend to go for something a bit extravagant, but still within budget are holidays. I will go for the balcony cabin or the sea view room because I do feel that at our age we want comfort and pleasure not economy when we travel. After lockdown I'm going to try to be like this in other areas of our lives. I think the lockdown has made me realize how precious time is and how quickly it is passing.

My OH takes pride in being a ‘skip rat’. He comes home with the most awful trash thinking it’s great. I long to buy something new but he always wants second hand or scavenged. We’re not poor by any stretch. He takes irrational pride in paying as little as possible for stuff ?. Drives me bats.

I’ve been the same, usually because finances dictated the cheaper options, but even on the rare occasion when I could’ve afforded the more expensive, old habits die hard. Until last year, I inherited a substantial amount of money, so, sorry NotSpaghetti, our new kitchen has had some expensive parts. Other stuff I’ve bought since the windfall has been middle range.

I can sympathise 100% with you. I still agree with the old adage buy cheap, buy twice. To my mind best IS the practical option!

Go on. You're worth it!

I have a talent for always choosing the most expensive option, and if we can afford it we go with it. If I bought second choice I’d never be happy with it.

When I was a child there was nothing in our house which wasn’t functional, depressing way to live in my opinion.

Of course we’ve had our time of only being able to buy the cheapest option, so I buy what I want now, within reason of course.

Engineered wood is hard work, you need to polish it frequently . I can’t do it any more and with three dogs it is looking sad

I always seem to like the most expensive option. It just turns out that way... BUT I can't afford it.

...So with something where several items are involved - like our new kitchen for example - we reused our perfectly good enough oven and mostly bought serviceable items (cupboard doors, washing machine etc) - but then splashed out on some beautiful cupboard handles. I love them. They are hand made and truly beautiful.

I think there is often a compromise. If you can bear it I'd allow yourself one extravagant purchase and you will look past the servicable compromises at the one that gives you joy!

And yes. We are indeed very lucky to be able to make any kind of choice at all.