when do you replace stuff?

[kathymuggle]

Assume you have a middle class type income (meaning you never worry about paying bills or putting food on the table, but cannot spend willy-nilly).

When do you replace items?

-I am faced with a fridge that leaks water (not onto the ground, but inside it, we have to scoop out a good inch of water about once a week)

-a tv that you have to hit occasionally because the wiring is wonky

- a wall mounted AC that leaks.

All of these items work, but have quirks that make them annoying

Part of me is like:

buy new ones! The old ones are annoying you, cause some labour and may be less efficient than new ones (hmmm...but may not - we are not in the tax bracket that buys expensive energy efficient new fridges)

and part of me is like:

keep things until they die. It will save money in the short and long run (long run as I may go through 5 fridges in my life instead of , say, 7) and will mean less stuff in landfill

What do you think?

[JamieCatheryn]

I replace the most broken or most hindering or annoying thing I can afford to whenever the money becomes available without borrowing. Til then I make it work or do without barring emergencies. If you have to money and it's a problem, replace it.

[Tjej]

I'd either figure out how to fix the fridge and the AC or replace them. The TV I'd leave for a while.

[Mama2Cesca]

I would replace all the items but wait for a really good sale on exactly what I want. I would want the item I replace with to be the best with energy possible.

[lifeguard]

I get totally stuck with these things - especially the big ticket items. I often want new & even feel it's justified but when I see the prices I decide to continue on with the not so perfect already sitting in my house. But maybe a little bit of maintenance will help - I've done that with my toilet & my stove & I definitely feel better about both now.

[sunnysandiegan]

All three items would be on my "replace in the near future" list, but I would prioritize which was the first, second, and third and I would begin my research on the replacements. I would also only replace when the exact item I wanted was at a good price point and I would spread them out.

However, my plan assumes I already researched repairing each item and we already did whatever was possible in that regard.

[crunchy_mommy]

I'd probably repair them, not replace them. If repairs were not possible or inordinately costly, I'd get new ones (though probably not the TV, I'd just deal with that, but we are not big TV-watchers)... I think things that leak aren't only annoying but hazardous (i.e. pools of water collect bacteria & if it's leaking on the ground someone could slip & fall etc.)

[Crayfish]

I wouldn't tolerate these faults, nope. Repair, or replace if repair isn't feasible. And once the replacement was in the house, the old one would be off the property, either to the dump or to whoever on FreeCycle wanted it for some reason.

[clutterwarrior]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

I think things that leak aren't only annoying but hazardous (i.e. pools of water collect bacteria & if it's leaking on the ground someone could slip & fall etc.)

Agree with this...the water leaking sounds very unhealthy in a fridge, and also the leaking AC could cause damage to other things in the house.

The TV I would also replace, as technology is getting so cheap these days, you can get a good one at a very reasonable price.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by clutterwarrior

Agree with this...the water leaking sounds very unhealthy in a fridge, and also the leaking AC could cause damage to other things in the house.

The TV I would also replace, as technology is getting so cheap these days, you can get a good one at a very reasonable price.

Most definately... I would take 2 weeks, price shop, compare, drool,oodle etc then make your decision. Of course if you find something suitable sooner GO FOR IT.

[LaughingHyena]

I would start researching and watching out for good sales. The fridge especially I would want to replace before it gave out completely. I have found the best prices on-line but it's usually been a couple of weeks till they can be delivered. I would not want to be without a fridge for that long.

[kathymuggle]

Interesting and thanks for the input!

Seems I am the only one who has issue with replacing items when they still work ( the frugalista/anti-consumerist in me balks)

I am almost sold on getting a new fridge, however.

[Ruthiegirl]

I was reluctant to replace our fridge too. It worked, but had a lot of loose bits, leaked water, the door sagged...we replaced it with an energy star fridge and I have been thrilled with the drop in our electric bill. Our food stays fresher longer, the floor is dry and I am saving nearly $30 a month in energy.

I replaced our old...very old air conditioners last year and had an even larger drop in electricity usage. Something to think about -- worn and faulty appliances are energy hogs.

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle

Seems I am the only one who has issue with replacing items when they still work ( the frugalista/anti-consumerist in me balks)

I think a lot of us are slow to buy buy ticket items. But it really, really stinks to go away for a weekend and come home to rotten food and a sopping kitchen, because the door on the fridge wasn't shut tight. Replacing it seemed a better option then constantly losing my cool over the mess.

But I get you -- it is a big deal to watch a huge thing like a fridge go to the dump.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle

Interesting and thanks for the input!

Seems I am the only one who has issue with replacing items when they still work ( the frugalista/anti-consumerist in me balks)

I am almost sold on getting a new fridge, however.

No you're not the only one. I don't replace EVERYTHING when it starts breaking down. I'd keep a stove with only 3 working burners, or a TV you have to slap (I have one in family room), or a car that needed repairs I'd have to save up to afford. I'd also keep scratched & dented furniture, or towels with small holes & fraying, or a printer that prints faded/warped pages. But like I said, the leaking is hazardous & messy & unless you can fix it (and just are waiting to buy the parts or call the repair man), it's not something I'd want to keep, it's no longer properly fulfilling it's purpose and it's causing more trouble rather than making your life easier/better (which is the ultimate purpose of those appliances, right?)

[kathymuggle]

No, I am not trying to fix the fridge. It has got to be 20 years old.

Another issue - this one with the fridge only - is I tend to believe older items were built to last - while most of todays aren't. I will have to research fridges a bit - see which ones have a good track record.

[crunchy_mommy]

well I agree many older things lasted longer but after 20 years your fridge is on the fritz & if you don't want to repair it, it's got to go!! Maybe as a compromise, you could buy an older (working, NOT LEAKING!) fridge second-hand to replace it, rather than a new one?

[philomom]

All Ac's put off water. Is yours putting off water where it shouldn't? If the water is running down the walls .... you should look into that or face some rot and mildew in your home that will hurt you and your resale value.


I could live with the tv and the fridge for some time like you describe.

[Alyantavid]

I probably wouldn't replace them at that point. I'd fix them if possible and if not, I'd keep them until they didn't work at all or I found a really good sale.

[Crayfish]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle

Interesting and thanks for the input!

Seems I am the only one who has issue with replacing items when they still work ( the frugalista/anti-consumerist in me balks)

My point of view is influenced by having hoarders in the family. Neglect of one's home is part of hoarding, and that's not a road that I want to go down, not even one ittybitty step - a step that might be perfectly reasonable for people without that issue.

It appears that once a hoarder is on that road, they develop an inability to tell what's obviously OK to defer (an inkstain on the couch cushion that you could turn over) and what's not (a toilet that you can only flush by bringing in buckets of water in from the garden hose - or one that doesn't flush at all, resulting in those buckets going in another direction).

So if an item has a flaw that affects the functionality, I'll be fixing the flaw or replacing the item - I don't trust that "is it important enough or not?" dance, because I know that those hoarder genes are lurking.

Crayfish