I can only have two of these three things. Help me choose?

[AngeloMysterioso]

DH and I have just over £300 in JL gift vouchers left over from our wedding. I also have £240 “treat money” from this year’s bonus with which to get something “for myself”. So here are my options-

Thing 1 - £229
We recently moved into a fairly small flat which has largely been furnished with hideous, chunky, black Ikea furniture - bought when DH was furnishing his bachelor flat (before I showed up). At the moment we are stuck with a dining table not dissimilar to this, with 4 matching chairs. We can’t fit all 4 chairs under the table at once and DH is using the table as his desk atm (new one due to arrive in a few weeks and it will go in our bedroom) so his office chair is in the sitting room and two of the chairs are currently in our bedroom.
One of the three things I have my eye on is this table and chairs set- it is pretty perfect for us in that it folds up nice and compactly and will look much nicer in the space than the awkward black one we have now. If I used the gift vouchers to get it we’d have roughly £80 left.

Thing 2 - £449-£675
I have wanted a Vitamix for so long. At least 7 years. I have watched the videos on YouTube more times than I’d like to admit. I have a Pinterest board full of delicious recipes I would make with one. Baby DS is also weaning at the moment and I would love to be able to make lots of lovely homemade things for him. I know there are other, cheaper blenders out there but I want one so badly!!
The Explorian is out of stock at JL atm so in order to get one of the more expensive better ones I would have to combine both gift vouchers and treat money. If I wanted the most fancy pants one I’d have to save up a bit more on top as well. DH is happy for me to get one with the gift vouchers and would probably use it too but to him any blender would do so he’s not fussed really.

Thing 3 - £240
I recently completed my first half marathon 5 months after having my first baby and have well and truly caught the running bug. I’ve been using my phone for tracking, listening to music etc but would love a proper fitness watch, and really like the look of the Garmin Vivoactive 4S. Of the three things, this is the only thing that would really be just for me is. The dining table, while being something only I really want, would be used by the whole family, the blender too but the fact that it’s a Vitamix is what makes it a treat for me.

My options are

A- get the table and the watch, spend the remaining vouchers on a shitty cheaper blender and continue to lust over a Vitamix for the rest of my days.

B- wait for the cheapest Vitamix to come back in stock, get that and the table or watch

C- combine vouchers and treat money for a more expensive Vitamix, make my peace with the ugly table, get a cheaper fitness watch for my birthday in a few months time.

What would Mumsnet do??

If paint your current table and chairs, then give it a coat of clear varnish, job done. The proposed set isn’t really very nice. Sorry.

The blender I also think you’d be off your head to spend that much.

I’d get the watch, a reasonable priced blender Ie fifty quid or so, and then rethink what else you want.

How long are you staying the the flat for? If you are planning to move in a couple of years then don't get the table. Also agree that there are loads of nicer ones out there. We actually had this one in a small flat with kids which was great, you can fit a travel high chair on the end for dinners too and only have to fold up one leaf of just the three of you. Also drawers very useful for hiding the endless crap that accumulates with kids 😂 they often have them second hand, get the wood one and you can polish it down www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/norden-gateleg-table-birch-90423887/

For chairs, I would also get folding ones and you could even install hooks on the wall to hang them in when not in use.

For the blender, I can't fathom spending that much on one but some of my friends go mad for them, so each to their own!

Watch sounds like a good idea and hits the "you" budget.

I would get the watch and choose between the table and blender, with the caveat that if the table is just to fix a short term solution I would get something second hand or just paint the old one for the moment.

If paint your current table and chairs, then give it a coat of clear varnish, job done.

Will that make it smaller?

Get the blender. You want the blender abd so you'll just resent the table. Find a less expensive table on ebay/free cycle.

I have to confess I have never heard of Vitamix. I thought Kitchenaid was the ultimate in luxury kitchen equipment but now I see it is the own brand stick blender of the Grand Equipment World. Because ofDespite my ignorance, I am a firm option c. You have wanted this brand for 7 years. That is some devotion! It will last long after the table has got all scratched and tatty and the watch is lying unused and neglected as you never seem round to getting the battery replaced.

@ArtichokeAardvark I have the yen for a kitchen aid 🙈 it's a nightmare!

We have a butterfly table as an additional piece of furniture for when we have large family gatherings. They're great. The chairs on the John Lewis one look very uncomfortable, though. Wilko do one for almost half the price with way better chairs. You can also leave it half up all the time if you like.

I'd go for table and a Vitamix if that's what you've craved for so long and save up for the watch.

Will that make it smaller?

Sarcasm is always the sign of intelligence.

The current table is tiny and folds down as it is, it is hideous because it’s black. If she paints it and the chairs in a pale grey in chalk paint and varnishes it, adds some cushion pads to the chairs it will be fine. She can’t put all four under the proposed table either when it’s folded down.

For people who are asking what a Vitamix is about, and the comment it's just a blender - no technically true. The love for a titanic is that you can throw in a few raw vegetables in it and the speed of the blender turns it into hot soup. You can also out frozen fruit and cold cream and a few ice cubes and that turns into ice cream. You can easily make your own peanut butter / any nut butter in it. The list is endless.

Not titanic Vitamix !😂

You can buy a fugly dining table like that much cheaper than in JL.

I'd search for a cheaper alternative then buy the contraption your heart lusts after.

The vitamix blenders are big, heavy and ugly. Not something I’d want out on my kitchen worktop all the time and too much of a faff to be getting it in and out of a cupboard each day
If you use a blender nearly daily buy one you won’t mind looking at all the time

The table is worth replaceing, but keep looking

The one you linked to won’t be that practical when baby is eating at it

A small rectangular table with benches might work well in a small flat?

Save the watch for birthday gift

Sounds like table and chairs a good option.
Not the one you linked though! The only good thing about that is the space saving. When your baby is a toddler they will be forever getting themselves in a pickle in the chairs; you need something solid. And also, you may not use a table much now but when your baby grows then you are likely to have more family sit down meals.
How about this? It doesn’t fold; but actually doesn’t take up too much space as everything folds?

www.argos.co.uk/product/8546102?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=ixixwtpqq&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:844-913-7556%7Ccid:9555148926%7Cagid:99725686964%7Ctid:pla-889340481070%7Ccrid:422972005678%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:16031585108302265523%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1007234&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9555148926&utm_term=8546102&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=99725686964&utm_custom2=844-913-7556&gclid=CjwKCAjw2uf2BRBpEiwA31VZjz4fPKqNPIV2XtBt0-Q7qRz0oDOT_Wds6kO2QOSmZcYeUsFQOleNIBoCZ4QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Babies are on purée for so little time it’s not worth a vitamix. Save up for that. Go for watch and table.

Op has opened my eyes to this Vitamix sat on the shelf at my dads, I’m staying here.

I’ve sat watching YouTube videos by Tommy and he makes ice cream in 4 minutes and hot soup, it’s looking fabulous. I’ve purchased some lolly moulds and am now thinking I could freeze smoothies made in it

Thanks op

A

I would keep an eye on the secondhand sites and get a table when one comes on to replace that one and then save up for a nicer table for the future. Wait for the cheaper blender and then also buy the watch. I own a great sports watch and lovely blender now after covering both for years. They are game changers if you're that kind of person! I do have a cheaper blender than your one though but if you're sure, stick to the one you actually want.

Get the blender. You've mentioned it so many times so you obviously want it. Just get it!

The buyers regret has the potential to be absolutely HUGE on the vitamin blender thingy. OP has massively fallen for the outsize marketing.

Definitely get the watch out of your tray money. Don't get into the bad habit of spending treat money on household items. I would never spend that much money on a blender and I could easily afford to if I wanted. The table will be for both of you, and if you have little space I can see it might be useful but those chairs do not look comfortable, definitely try before you buy. I would probably buy a second hand table or throw a table cloth over current one and use money for weekend break once Covid is gone.

I have another option.... John Lewis have a fab baby section, reasonably priced and good warranty. Why don't you buy your baby's next car seat with the voucher and then transfer the money into your account so your not restricted with John Lewis for table and chairs!

A... I really need to know what the deal is with vitamix. What does it do that others don't

Nothing else [...] cooks fresh soup from cold

Um, a pan on a hob might.

Definitely get the watch! I have a vivomove 3s and I absolutely love it. Sounds like the table would be a good shout too, though if it's being used as an office atm, chances are it won't be folded often, so make sure you like how it looks when unfolded. I had a similar setup in our old flat and we only ever ended up folding it very occasionally. And get some nice chair cushions!

@ArriettyJones I found you on another thread just to answer you 😂 it's a reference from Toy Story. Buzz Lightyear was having an identity crisis. I might google it later for a laugh! As you were

Ah! Thank you! That had become such an ear worm! For some reason I was half convinced it was a Blur lyric. No wonder I couldn’t pin it down.

It all makes sense and I can hear it now. Toy Story was DC1’s favourite film when small.