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Wants and Needs

June 21st, 2014 at 02:34 am

So I want a new vacuum cleaner. I do not need one, but my standup vacuum cleaner is 12 years old and probably should be replaced because it smells when it vacuums. I have a Eureka Boss Smart Vac. However I don't use it as much as my lightweight 9 year old dirt devil corded handheld. It's basically a dustbuster with a handle. I bought it in 2005 on a black friday doorbuster from walmart for $8. It's semi broken with the suction piece unable to stay in unless it's being used. However it's still usable, hence why I use it.

Anyway I probably sweep or vacuum everyday 2-3x/day. There is so much dirt/sand in the winter from the dog, and sand/dust from the kids in the summer I can't stand it. I obsess about it and can feel it even in the winter through socks.

So last black friday I told my DH I wanted a light handheld. He said sure go get what you want, but I couldn't bring myself to spend $200-300 on a dyson. But yesterday after dinner at a friend's house I used her Dyson DC59 animal which is $399 on Amazon. I would love that but it's just too much for me to spend. I looked and the lower/older model is $219 reconditioned factory or $259 new.

I am definitely lusting after this vacuum cleaner. The problem is how to afford it? What can I sacrifice or how can I make extra money? Now it'd be easy to use the focus group money I'll be making shortly, $100 on Monday and $125 next month. But I think that's too easy. Maybe I should have a goal that if I can sell stuff on craigslist or a consignment store, I can buy the new vacuum. That would be a lesson in getting rid of stuff to get something new as well as delayed gratification.

How do you deal with wants versus needs?

7 Responses to “Wants and Needs”

  1. wisewoman Says:
    1403315279

    I can relate. I have the Ergorapido cordless by Electrolux. I LOVE IT. But it's cheaply made and after two years the roller bar doesn't rotate. I expected more from Electrolux but it's the way things are made now a days. Every Dyson owner I know love their Dyson. I looked a the model you mentioned. It's also plastic but I'm leary of lifelong performance. Does Dyson stand behind their products? They offer an extended warranty but it bothers me that you have to pay extra to ensure the product works for more than a year. Especially when it costs over $400.

  2. doingitallwrong Says:
    1403363203

    I loved my Dyson. Watch for the vacuum sales at Kohl's when they're 25% or so off, you can get usually find a concurrent 30% off code online at places like fatwallet.net or slickdeals.com, and I think Kohl's has free shipping on any order over $75 these days. (You probably do need a Kohl's charge for some of these.) I got mine seven years ago for $384 shipped to my door, down from the retail price of $699.

    We used and abused it for seven years -- we have several critters that shed a lot, the entire house is carpeted, and hubby vacuums obsessively -- until it developed a hole in one of the tubes or something. I would have had it fixed but DH said it would cost as much as a new vacuum -- I'm not sure how accurate that is, but it wasn't worth the fight. We used our credit card rewards to get a Shark rotator and it's nice -- lighter than the Dyson and a bit easier to maneuver -- but I don't think it picks up nearly as well as the Dyson did. FWIW. Smile

  3. snafu Says:
    1403374212

    Another Dyson [6 yr] advocate here. Just do the math, how many times you vacuum weekly X 72 months divided by price. You can remind yourself of benefits like cleaner rugs, reduced dust mites, no agro task, happier wife in the role of housekeeper is worth how many dollars? Set a deadline and start your search for best price for midline model or better. Consider pros cons and benefits of various pricing like coupons, CC rewards, on-line vs brick & mortar store, warranties, convenience, last year's model when 2015 model is being featured, even gently used if that meets your criteria.

    The reviews of cheapy don't seem promising and you're trying to avoid spending money for useless objects. When all else fails consider it a treat for DH & DKs.

  4. MissAngel Says:
    1403387863

    I am also a Dyson lover. I bought a reconditioned one from Amazon probably 10 years ago and it is still going strong. I bought the purple Animal and it really does pick up the cat hair.

    I usually put off "fun" wants like a new book, but I will spend on "not as fun" wants like a vacuum cleaner. I will usually do swagbucks for amazon gift cards to get my fun wants, that way I don't feel as though I'm blowing my budget. This is for the bigger wants that I have ($30+). I think I tend to spend more money on other people and go over budget for that instead of myself. Smaller wants I will usually tie them to another goal--work out 20 times in a month and I'll take myself to Goodwill for a $20 shopping spree.

  5. LivingAlmostLarge Says:
    1403390206

    wisewoman, reading the reviews it's why i don't want to buy a cheaper model. I worry it'll break soon.

    doingitallwrong, I am going to start watching kohl deals.

    Snafu, I vacuum daily and usually 2-3x a day. I do obsess a lot about it.

    Missangel, I think even if it's not a fun want it's just so expensive.

  6. CB in the City Says:
    1403531741

    I love my Dyson, too. I think I paid in the neighborhood of $500 for it years ago, and I've never regretted it. It WORKS! It's easy to navigate and it's easy to empty the canister.

    I should probably vacuum more often than I do. My cats do a number on the floors, especially my long-haired tom.

  7. LivingAlmostLarge Says:
    1404265261

    I am just counting the number of times i sweep and vacuum a day, I average around 3-4x/day. I can't wait.

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