Should we choose beauty or utility?

[EachPeachPearMum]

We're obviously becoming boring older- we were out yesterday, and popped into an arts and craft place on a whim. While we were mooching, DH fell in love with a painting.

We have just had a new addition to our family and really need a bigger car (it is impossible to fit 3 adults and 2 child car seats into our tiny hatchback).
We have set aside a sum to replace our car, but haven't yet got round to changing it.

The painting cost a lot more than we were going to spend on a new car.

Which would you choose? Something boring that would be used every day, or something that you love every time you look at it?

the car

I love paintings but you need a car.

Get a car. Find a print of the picture and frame it. You will eventually tire of trying to cram everyone into your tiny car and will feel resentful everytime you look a the painting

As someone who is currently sitting beneath a Howson and owns a 1 litre Polo, I'd say go for the painting.

God, Howson's stuff gives me nightmares !

Hmm Nicky... I did say beautiful... Howson a bit scary for me!

painting!!

car - not an investment.

But surely, you should buy art you love for its own sake, not as an investment?

Painting all the way.

of course you do.

but if you want to reduce it to money terms, buying a car is like throwing money away (although of course you'll get the use of it). with a painting, you'll love looking at it every day, and it won't lose it's value.

But the car will make the OP's day to day life easier. A car that fits her family is not a luxury. A painting that will hang on the wall, no matter how beautiful, is.

If the OP was debating changing her perfectly suitable car for a painting then my answer would probably be different.

How often do you really need to fit three adults into the hatchback? If you 'haven't yet got round to replacing it' it's obviously not that urgent, so am tempted to say 'painting' (although I'd try and negotiate the price if at all possible).

We would have 3 adults in the car two or three times per week, but likely to increase in next 12 months- we can't actually fit them in atm.
The reason we haven't got round to it is because its almost impossible proved difficult so far to get both dc fed, watered, changed, ready to go and get to car showrooms within opening hours. We have had some spectacular failures so far (all finally ready to go, sitting in the car, and the car wouldn't start being the low point I think!)

Obviously now DS is a little older and more settled we might actually manage it in the near future.

oh well. car then.

Buy the car and then start saving up for the painting (how about ebay/gumtree/car boots for everything in your house that you don't need?)

And I agree, Howson stuff is not beautiful!!!

Ah, yes, true, Howson is NOT beautiful is it? Bloody love it though. Makes the back ache from the Polo almost worthwhile.

art every time

i call it enviro therapy

keeps me sane

You can get interest free loan to buy art that you pay back over 10 months - see here

So maybe you could get both?

What a brilliant scheme, that is fantastic!

I learn so many interesting things from MN

Wow- Mary Huff.... that is brilliant! What an excellent scheme.... unfortunately the painting costs substantially more than the limit they offer...

Anyway- this has now become a moot point, as the painting is sold...

Phew!