How often do you buy homeware type stuff?

[gooseduckbird]

I have been making a budget for the next few months as we've some expensive work coming up. Looking at bank statements, I can see I buy stuff for the house regularly, a plant, cushions, bedding or a candle. It's not overly expensive stuff but adding it up, I do spend a lot. I just wondered if this is common. I can be at Tesco then buy a photo frame or a chopping board, sometimes it's a planned purchase. I replace towels if add to bedding when needed, sometimes buy a new casserole dish.

I don't follow trends and only redecorate if needed. I dont add to landfill unnecessary either by buying stuff and getting rid after a while.

What are others like?

I hardly ever buy the things you describe, unless I’m replacing something broken or have redecorated and changed colour scheme. I look after my things and recently mentioned to DH that the colander is 37 years old, bought in my student days. I’m not sure if that makes me tight or thrifty.

Used to buy when I saw things and thought oh that will go with such and such.
Now only buy what's actually needed,towels,pillows etc when it's time for them to be replaced.

Not very regularly. I buy things as I need them…. And I mean need, not ‘fancy a change’. Lots of our bedding is over 10 years old, but totally fine. I wouldn’t buy a chopping board on a whim because… then I’d have more chopping boards than I need.

Hardly ever. Our bedding and towels are at least 12 years old, I'm going to replace one set of towels next week. Our indoor plant must be nearly 20 now, outdoor ones maybe one new one every couple of years, apart from the sturdy old ones which have survived my inept gardening! They're 23 now, I got them when I left home. We only replace stuff when it's broken or worn out.

I use candles lots so replace them often, I tend to get new decor bits each season (but only a few) then they go into storage to be brought out in rotation / donated to family.

I enjoy interior shopping and decorating my home so will change things up every now and then - it’s fun to me!

Almost never.

I bought a rug and some bedroom curtains last August but I'd been looking for a while.

Before that, I can't remember.

Erm, not very often... like, months can go without me buying anything. I bought a few things in the January sales, but don't have my eye on anything else. The bedding was bought new when I moved out, and aside from buying bits as replacements for broken/impractical items, everything is the same. I'm not into ornaments or candles, and my colour schemes stay the same, which helps.

Hardly ever. The last thing I bought was a rug for the hallway but that was because we'd had the old one for nearly 30 years and it was worn out. Generally we only buy something new if it's replacing something that has broken.

One extravagance I'm happy about is when I had a small legacy and spent it on Egyptian cotton bedding and Japanese kitchen knives. Those are still going strong ten years later.

So it seems I'm the only one who ever buys anything! I do have a lot of stuff that is twenty years old and we do not routinely replace stuff, mostly it's if it's broken or not repairable but I do buy plants quite regularly and kitchen ware at times needs replaced.

It will be interesting how much I save by purposely not buying anything for a period of time

Definitely not the only one! Threads like these tend to attract people proud of last having bought bedding circa 1967.
In reality the shops stock loads of this stuff simply because people buy it regularly!
I have personally just ordered new bath mats for example, mine are looking a bit worn and grubby so I am getting some fresh new ones.

I do. I love interior design and trends in decor, so I change things up regularly. And good candles are a weakness of mine.

Almost never - we don't need anything else in our lives.

We've been married for 40 years, so have all the essentials, and we are trying to be as eco as possible.

We recently changed our bed from double to king size and bought new bedding, but I really notice the difference between cheap and reasonable priced bedding. When I’m spending £100+ on a set I don’t want to replace it often. I’m looking to get forever pieces to replace cheap and cheerful bits and may buy a good quality forever piece very 6 months. I’m eyeing up some silver candlesticks next.

For that sort of thing I’d only buy if something needed to replaced.

Helpfully there are no big supermarkets (with house stuff in them) near me, or Dunelms or the like, so I don’t get tempted to throw extras I don’t need into the trolley.

I really like my sofa cushions, for example, but don’t feel the need to change them seasonally, which I see is a growing thing.

You're not alone, OP! I'm a sucker for houseware - some cushion covers arrived today, with daffodils on them, so I'll change our winter ones over tomorrow. I have bird feeders galore, little dust-gathering knick-knacks, more crockery and 'nibble plates' than is reasonable for a 2-person household, seasonal candles, far too many gadgets in the kitchen, and more rugs than I have floor room for. It makes me happy, if a little cluttered :)

The idea of ‘forever’ things is anathema to me. We’ve never had sofas for more than 5 years, for example. I get bored. The sofas we got when we were married in the 90s are still going strong in a brother in law’s house. But so dated!

We change towels at least once every 2 years. My parents had towels from when they were married in the 1960s. And you could tell.

When I was more flush I bought quite a lot of housey stuff. Now, I choose to spend money on other things (mostly savings!) and rarely buy house stuff unless it is actually needed. I'm acutely aware of adding to landfill and how crappy some of the stuff in the shops is. I'd rather spend more on a quality item that will last years - I wouldn't change up eg cushions for the sake of it.

Probably more candles than I should , so I promised myself not to buy any more until my current ones are used this year . I want to replace some of our sheets next , but want really nice quality ones , so happy to spend more but haven't found the perfect ones yet , sticking to not just buying them without research this time .

I love buying this sort of thing but I’m terrible at throwing the old things away, so I really try to not get them unless I really really mean it. Constant needing to resist!

I tend to buy in fits and starts.
This month I’ve bought a beautiful vase from John Lewis, a twin bin for the utility, some things for the kitchen windowsill, a couple of led candles, a large kentia palm, some storage containers and an oxo peeler.
I also want a couple of throws and some cushions.
It could be a few months before I buy anything else for the house, however, I will be buying for the garden 😊

Long past the random purchases, just give the charity some money rather than taking your not needed tat to their shop. I replace, if required, but in general I am trying to reduce the amount of possessions.

All the time lately as have a list of things that need replacing due to wear etc. Plus decorating.
I was buying ' seasonal decor' which I sponsored realised I need to store each time and it's a hag getting it all out. Spring , Easter, summer , autumn, Halloween, Xmas. I have stopped that now and passed it all on to a friend who loves all that and has just got her own place after DV so it's not gone to waste.

I only buy whenever something breaks or I genuinely need it. I have a shower caddy, which is hanging on for dear life, but doesn’t need to be replaced quite yet!

I hardly ever buy the sort of things you describe. TBH I could afford to, but just don’t feel the need. I buy stuff when I need to, when things need replacing.

Some more balance now with some being the same. There is a real hint of those who don't buy stuff presenting as if superior in some way!

I don't do seasonal decor or change cushions every few years but yes I do like to buy bits for my home. My sofas are 12 yeas old and look great still, my bedroom furniture is about 15 years old too! I don't just replace bedding and towels on a whim, more when they start to get a bit worn and tatty but they then become cleaning rags. I'm not wasteful but do enjoy nice things.

Anyway, plants in a home are beneficial.