<p>Sometimes I think about all the money I could have saved if I didn’t buy the many useless items that are collecting dust in my house. But every once in a while, it occurs to me…“Gee, that was money well spent…”</p>
<p>My one cup coffee maker - Too convenient…probably drink more coffee than I should.
Heavy duty vacuum cleaner - Backpack style with powerful suction.
My overpriced jeans - I own about 20 pairs of jeans, but wear the same ones over and over again.</p>
<p>Anyone else purchase items/services that they are completely satisfied with and would purchase it again if it were ever lost/stolen/broken?</p>
<p>^^^We live with a Lab, too. Black, and the carpet is off-white! </p>
<p>When we had the carpet (quite good quality) installed a year ago, we were cautioned against Dysons because they could suck the pile right out of the backing. Was that just over caution because of a few anecdotal reports, I wonder? Do you use your Dyson on carpet?</p>
<p>I am a Kirby fan. Yes, it is expensive, but I have had mine now for @15 yrs and it works just as good as it did the day I bought it.</p>
<p>My mom swears by her Oreck.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t ever buy again anything that is dual…i.e. coffee maker with cappucino machine…One always breaks before the other and then you are stuck.</p>
<p>High end cosmetics…Found out a long time ago, Lancome comes off the same line as L’oreal, but costs 2x as much.</p>
<p>Will also never go cheap on classic clothing…anything Navy, white or Black I buy high end (Talbots, Coldwater), anything trendy and I buy it on sale with no care to the brand since I expect I won’t wear it more than 1 season.</p>
<p>On, but off topic, my favorite thing is a dishwasher detergent called Quantum by Finish. It is more expensive, but at least I never have water posts or film like I would get with Cascade or Electrasol.</p>
<p>We had nail down, prefinished, 3/4" tongue and groove hardwood installed about 15 years ago. It has been great. The material was finished and cured in a kiln at the factory so there were no VOC (volatile organic compounds) exposure concerns. The contractor nailed it down and the floor was done.</p>
<p>The more modern “snap lock” stuff is cheaper but not nearly as durable.</p>
<p>My Certified “pre-owned” Audi. Pre-Owned means that someone else shouldered the depreciation as the car was driven off the lot the first time. Certified means that the warranty was extended to 100,000 miles (includes routine maintenance and oil changes). And I love this car! When it is time to replace it, I will probably go with the same make and model.</p>
<p>I bought a Dyson about 5 years ago and was really disappointed. The suction wasn’t great, difficult to move from carpet to hardwood and it was really hard to maneuver. However, the newer model with the “ball” that hugs the corners seems like a great feature. Wish I could trade in my old model for the new one…</p>
<p>Our Dyson has incredible suction but does NOT remove the pile from the carpet or rugs. But it does suck up LOTS of dog hair! We have a red tribal persian rug in our family room and have to vacuum it every two days (why did we pick RED with a yellow lab? Well, cause I was sick of buying beige!) </p>
<p>We had an Oreck…the only good thing I can say about it was that it was lightweight. But did NOT do the job and was very expensive. </p>
<p>Also, LOVE our wood floors. We went with the real thing…not the laminated already finished kind. They look great!</p>
<p>The one item that I would love to buy and believe it would be worth it, that is if I didn’t have cats and dogs, would be a ROOMBA. I hate vacuuming and that would be a dream to me to just turn it on and walk away.</p>
<p>Now if they could make a self loading and unloading dishwasher I would mtg my house for that!</p>
<p>Yes, I bought the Roomba too. See the pattern here…I have always been under the false impression that the perfect vacuum cleaner would solve all my housecleaning woes…ain’t ever gonna happen. I still need to get down and dirty and do the cleaning. Anyway, the Roomba is great for light cleaning, but as you say, with pets and, in my case, a toddler, it just won’t cut it. Plus, now I find that it loses it charge fairly quickly and it is really of no use.</p>
<p>I bought an All Clad double burner grill pan last summer. I really love that thing and use it all of the time. I actually have a Jennair stove, oven with the grill on the two left burners , but it is a pain to clean , so this is a nice alternative. I think I paid about $100 for it, but I used it all the time for meats, fish and veggies.
Also have the double burner griddle , but it was a gift
I use it every weekend because my daughter and her friends love my pancakes …I am known for them , but the truth is, I just don’t have Bisquick in the house and was forced to make them from scratch…now my secret is out</p>
<p>Good quality carpeting for the stairs and upstairs hallway when we bought the house. It has held up despite the abuse of 5 cats, 3 dogs, 5 kids and their friends.</p>
<p>Our lab died at age 13 two years ago. We will get another this summer. I miss her but not the hair. Which model Dyson should I buy, my husband will buy me anything so that he can have a dog! He travels, so I get a leash and collar around my neck too. I am getting to go a cruise first before I’m locked down.</p>
<p>checkbook, sorry about your puppy! Excited about your new puppy :)!</p>
<p>Our lab died last winter and we got a new retriever pup for our older one to play with last summer. He was heartbroken without his buddy. I’ve never seen anything sadder in my life. </p>
<p>Buy the best dyson, but even the least expensive is fantastic.</p>
<p>But, I read an article once and it said to go to the best jeans place with the most jeans and get a sales clerk to help you. Take their recommendations! (I never would have tried on the ones I did without help, for sure), and be ready to try on 15-25 pairs…take a teenager or college student with you to tell you the truth, too. :(</p>
<p>I’m so happy I did these things, though it was nearly as depressing as bathingsuit shopping for a half an hour. Now, I couldn’t be more pleased. Happy birthday!</p>
<p>Oh, and remember that the tailor is your freind! If your jeans are perfect in the legs and gap at the waist? This can be fixed. I learned this from my much more fashionable than I am daughter.</p>
<p>Last yr I was lazy…we had just moved into a new construction home and trying to get my head wrapped around the landscaping from a clean slate.</p>
<p>This yr, I will be doing my typical…planting 200 -300 bulbs and then placing perennials around them. In the fall I plant Mums, so that too gives me color and green coverage yr round. Hope they come back this yr because we had a lot of snow (VA).</p>
<p>Bulbs are the best bang for the buck! just make sure to separate every few yrs, other wise you will get lots of foliage and few flowers.</p>
<p>Has anyone tried those upside down tomato planters…I am considering them since we live on 10 acres and foxes/deers are not uncommon sightings.</p>
<p>Another thing worth the bucks…CHI flat iron. If you have thick wavy/curly hair even in humid regions the CHI will keep it straight and reduce frizzing.</p>
the first time I used mine it felt like I was cheating. </p>
Excited about your new puppy :)!</p>