Planning for replacement of large purchases (car, tv, appliances)

VestanPance

I'd like to make a stand on behalf of the tech savvy men folk to say there is no such thing as not being fussy about your TV!

lostinrates

VestanPance wrote: »

I'd like to make a stand on behalf of the tech savvy men folk to say there is no such thing as not being fussy about your TV!

Just as well my husband has more things to worry about than tech savvy ness then! He's savvy about things far more interesting to both of us .

Same problem with the car really. It would be useful if one of us could drum up some interest in the car tbh, because we need to make a decision. Because ours is a working vehicle leasing isn't an option, it gets a bit of a beating. I think we'll probably go with a defender by default.

supersaver2

As long as you are strict like I am using an interest free store card works well. I've recently bought a new washing machine from Argos and have gotten 9 months interest free using an Argos card, as long as you divide the overall cost by 9 months and make that payment every month then you will pay no interest. Obviously you do need to make that monthly payment and have it cleared by the end of the interest free period! I also put £100 aside every month for other expenses.

CupOfChai

Like some others said, I save a bit each month as the "emergency pot" so I've got some money to hand if anything unexpected happens, e.g. car breaks down, boiler blows up, fridge goes kaput. I'd suggest you just make a habit of doing that throughout life, or at least trying to as I have no idea of your circumstances and how easy it may or may not be for you.

I've always thought it's an extremely good idea to routinely save at least something and not spend every penny of your income when you get it (if it's in any way possible at all, I realise it could be very difficult for those on very low incomes). If you do put something by each month/week then when something happens it's so much easier to deal with as you know you don't have to try and scrape together however much money all at once.

trolleyrun

As soon as I buy a car, I start saving for another. Last time it took me 6 years, but I've never had a car loan. My current car should last me at least another 6 years if not longer, so that leaves me plenty of time to save for a new one. I don't replace things just because of a new model comes on the market, so I don't even have a smartphone

neverdespairgirl

VestanPance wrote: »

I'd like to make a stand on behalf of the tech savvy men folk to say there is no such thing as not being fussy about your TV!

Good thing my dearly beloved isn't bothered - our TV is state-of-the-art 1990 vintage, and works perfectly well.

securityguy

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Good thing my dearly beloved isn't bothered - our TV is state-of-the-art 1990 vintage, and works perfectly well.

Depending on how big it is and how much you use it, the payback period in terms of savings in electricity may be smaller than you think. Especially as you'll have a set-top box of some sort, probably with a switch-mode plug top power supply, handling digital broadcasts that your old TV can't receive directly. Larger CRT TVs are real energy hogs, and you might find that you're as much as fifty pounds a year better off on your electricity bill (26" CRT vs 32" LCD).

mummyroysof3

If an appliance breaks then it would be replaced using the savings. My laptop looks like being next thing to replace argh

Gloomendoom

lostinrates wrote: »

Just as well my husband has more things to worry about than tech savvy ness then! He's savvy about things far more interesting to both of us .

Same problem with the car really. It would be useful if one of us could drum up some interest in the car tbh, because we need to make a decision. Because ours is a working vehicle leasing isn't an option, it gets a bit of a beating. I think we'll probably go with a defender by default.

If you are thinking of buying a new one, be aware that the current model may not be available for much longer.

Gloomendoom

securityguy wrote: »

Larger CRT TVs are real energy hogs, and you might find that you're as much as fifty pounds a year better off on your electricity bill (26" CRT vs 32" LCD).

That's something I didn't realise. Our CRT telly died last month and was replaced by an LCD unit that has a bigger screen but uses a lot less power.