Driving myself up the wall about purchase choices

[Bubblemilk]

Please, please tell me how I can make significant purchases without days and days of online research. I am looking for a new buggy for a 13.5kg 3 year old to last for another year or so. I am also looking for a new hoover, bike lock and shed. For over a week now I have been researching these items and I am not any closer to making a decision we have a healthy budget for the items but I really don't want to buy twice.

I can't help but think I need to see the item in person to decide but neither do I want to spend all my Sunday shopping (in person or online and where even stocks a wide range of strollers and hoovers anymore?).

Mostly I need advice on making a decision and sticking to it. If you have no problem making swift decisions please tell me how to do it?

For the buggy, I'd recommend a secondhand OutNAbout Nipper 360. Large children can fit in them and they're easy to resell. There is an ONA group on Facebook.

I did this when I was at that stage in my life, I was always seemingly buying big ticket items that needed research, looking at which cut down my research time enormously

I also suggest a carpet sweeper for every day, Bissell off Amazon, don't bother with recharging ones, they are no better and use precious energy,

Then use a Miele for a thorough hoover when needed.

I'm a bit like you, and the "bloke" way of shopping does my head in. Shopping for trainers with DS I'm like: "don't you even want to SEE what the other shop has?"

I always read the reviews left by other shoppers.

I have learned that you can try hoovers out at Curry's so I would recommend that.

I think I'd want to try out buggies too. Though we got given hand me downs and never bought one.

Bike lock is inexpensive so it really doesn't matter which you buy.

I’m like this over purchases. I think I subconsciously think there’s only one right answer. Ie there is a best dishwasher for the price and I just need to keep endlessly trawling until I find it.

As @Geneticsbunny suggested sign up to Which. They test and measure so instead of the whole internet to choose from, there’s just 2 or 3 top ones. Saves me so much time and makes me feel more confidence.

some things you need to see in the flesh and try out ie sofas.

I was also told ref white goods, never buy the cheapest in the range (it will have been made down to fit the price), and never buy the most expensive (it’s mostly the same quality with gadgets).

I drove DS made making him go around looking at different sorts of bike locks (for Uni). He pretty much made his mind up in 3 minutes but I insisted he look at all the other sorts... after 3 shops, we went back to the lock he wanted at 3 minute point.

Standalone bike insurance is a rip off. Add it to your home insurance, it will be much cheaper and better coverage.

I believe that house insurance on a bike only goes to value about £350 & may not cover bikes that were outdoors when stolen. Pretty useless all round.

@Bubblemilk

i am like this too!

downside is the time spent.

upside is I rarely make a bad purchase.

I don't angst over taking my time to make a decision anymore. I'm happy with the pro/con balance

Not true. We have bikes up to the value of £5k each on ours, and they only need to know about the highest value bike then they don't care if we have 10 bikes worth £4900 as well (as long as total value is insured, you just have to declare it as an add on). Worldwide cover. This is with Norwich Union, and costs around £200 per year for the whole building and contents policy.

Believe me, I've spent a lot of time looking into this and have always made sure our bikes are properly insured. Years ago our garage was broken into and my bike was stolen (lock was cut through) and our insurance company at the time paid the £3k claim with no quibble at all.

I don't know a single person who has a buggy for a three year old that isn't a maclaren so I'd start there.

For the others, find a reputable shop and ring them to ask what they recommend for you then buy that. I was pleased with marks electrical, think they have cashback on Quidco currently.

You don't need to be an expert on everything, you can outsource that expertise.

@Brogues has the right idea.

when I needed a buggy for a 3 year old we got a baby jogger. Nipper 360s were recommended too.

I do the same research on items. I like to get best item for my money and not choose poorly.

We got a Baby Jogger like MNCar- we bought the City Mini GT second hand. My 5 year old DS still fits, as does my 7 year old DD, and on occassion my 10 year old will sit in it to hide from the world if we're standing still somewhere but I wouldn't push her in it unless it was an emergency, she's too big really (autistic kids with sensory needs mean we have used and continue to use buggies far later than other may do). I also have the double version, after 3-4 years of heavy use by us, and them already being about 3 years old before that, they are almost perfect mechanically still- the fabrics look a bit tired but that's to be expected.

Maximiser seems like the right term... I also think that Brogues DH seems to have the right idea and I'm going to take that on board, I can get so hung up on small purchases whereas actually the bigger, more expensive ones are more important for research! The weight of actually making the final decision feels insurmountable at times.

I can’t help as I’m the same and have so many things I need to buy it’s embarrassing.

Next big purchase is a car. That will be a nightmare …

I agree with PPs - Maclaren for a buggy, Miele for a hoover, don't get hung up on which one, buy the one in budget.

Get a shed built (just work out what size you need), tongue and groove or shiplap last longer than overlap.

Don't over think the bike lock.

And get a Which? subscription!

Well we have finally decided on a buggy- it's not a Maclaren as they seem to cost around £200 to £300 and pp are right that a three year old won't be in it much longer. However when they've had a full on day and we need to get home at 5pm they into the buggy they'll go.

Now onto the vacumn cleaner. Our current upright pushes dust around the floor, but the Henry I use my at work is terrible for getting crumbs plus cumbersome to push as there's no wheels or roller bar on the head. I don't think a Miele will solve this issue.

Thank you for all those who can empathise too. I'm definitely a maximiser and it's exhausting. It's always comforting to know I'm not alone in my feelings.