Uncertainty means no big purchases

[Anonymous]

My kitchen renovation is on hold. I’m not comfortable spending the money at the moment.

[Anonymous]

In addition to trying to do a No Buy 2025 (smaller consumer goods) I am definitely not spending any money on anything home or car related that isn’t an absolutely necessary repair.
I know we will need a new car in the next 5 years so we can maybe pass our old ones down (2 teens) but I’m hedging on that. Despite my instinct that tariffs will do some damage, I also think we will return to the days of being able to get a gently used car for a reasonable price again during the recession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had plans to buy a new car this spring, and to sign a contract next month for a home renovation and expansion that is a major expense (50% of the cost of the home 5 years ago). Now we are not doing either because who knows what is going to happen with one of our fed jobs, and the other is connected to the international aid community through an NGO.

We will make it through the next four years (or longer) - the money we'd been saving for the renovation is a healthy buffer. But I'm sad because I've been looking forward to both these things, and that's money that could help support businesses that we'll hold onto instead.

I suspect we are not alone here - anyone else pausing big spending?

Life is a bit too short to take this approach. We put off a major renovation which we had the cash for for a bunch of years because of real job uncertainty. That was a mistake. Our renovation is great and changed how we use the house. Never should have waited. Life is too short. You can and will get another job if something happens. On the car -- do it now. Prices will just go higher. That is a no brainer. People can disagree on the house but not the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely being more cautious. Was going to do an addition to the house but no way as tariffs will cause building supplies to go up in price. Not going to renovate the bathrooms for the same reason. Just going to keep saving that money.

This would be an argument for doing it now. If the tariffs ever go in they are not coming off for a while. Prices are not bad now.

[Anonymous]

Be greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went thrifting yesterday for clothes (Unique if FC -- what a huge, weird place). First time I've been in a thrift store in probably 25 years. I've lost a lot of weight and need new clothes. If I were done losing, and not just halfway to my goal weight, I'd probably just buy new clothes and not worry too much about the money, but knowing that these clothes are temporary I can't justify spending much now. Did find some stuff.

Look on Ebay, especially if you're looking for specific items or brands

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

[Anonymous]

I have entered austerity mode. So much uncertainty. This is basically a counterrevolution against post New Deal America. If we’re going back to 1900, I need to be ready to live on much less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

[Anonymous]

Not buying anything except for kid stuff and necessities. Not eating out or even getting takeout. It’s the complete uncertainty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Not all of it is just cosmetic. Some of it is making things more functional, which can improve quality of life. Like if you bought an older home and are locked in at a < 3% mortgage, but the space is difficult to live in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had plans to buy a new car this spring, and to sign a contract next month for a home renovation and expansion that is a major expense (50% of the cost of the home 5 years ago). Now we are not doing either because who knows what is going to happen with one of our fed jobs, and the other is connected to the international aid community through an NGO.

We will make it through the next four years (or longer) - the money we'd been saving for the renovation is a healthy buffer. But I'm sad because I've been looking forward to both these things, and that's money that could help support businesses that we'll hold onto instead.

I suspect we are not alone here - anyone else pausing big spending?

Life is a bit too short to take this approach. We put off a major renovation which we had the cash for for a bunch of years because of real job uncertainty. That was a mistake. Our renovation is great and changed how we use the house. Never should have waited. Life is too short. You can and will get another job if something happens. On the car -- do it now. Prices will just go higher. That is a no brainer. People can disagree on the house but not the car.

Why do you think it's impossible to disagree about buying a new car? a new car is almost always a foolish purchase that loses value the moment you drive it off the lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Not all of it is just cosmetic. Some of it is making things more functional, which can improve quality of life. Like if you bought an older home and are locked in at a < 3% mortgage, but the space is difficult to live in.

I have lived in all types and sizes of homes, and never found one difficult to live in. Even when I lived in a tar paper shack with a coal stove for heat. It's just so dramatic to think that way. I don't.