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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

For wanting to buy a new sofa?

22 replies

CrazyChristmasLady · 01/01/2011 11:40

Bit of a trivial one really.

We have some very cheapy foam sofas, fabric so not great with children, got a 3 year old and another on the way. I really want a leather one and think they are so practical.

We don't really have much money but VAT goes up next week and there are some great deals around on interest free credit and paying over 3-4 years at the moment.

My sofas are crippling me at the moment. I am 34 weeks pregnant and they make me ache sooooo much, they do generally anyway. My grandad hates baby sitting just because his back plays up so much on our sofas.

Would it be really ridiculous of me to go out and buy a sofa (well probably 2) that we don't have the money for as such but when I am in pain and there are some good deals around, I can't think rationally. Plus I am slightly impulsive and when I get it into my head that I want something, I don't like waiting and I have wanted a new sofa for quite a while now. It doesn't help that all my friends have leather sofas and every time I sit on one, I realise how comfortable they are and how I don't ache and have to get up because I am in pain.

OP posts:

pinkem · 01/01/2011 11:46

Where are you? I have a Black leather 3 piece suite that is your for free if you can collect it!
(We are Near Henlow)

rainbowinthesky · 01/01/2011 11:47

What about ebay, gumtree?

justaboutmaintainingorder · 01/01/2011 11:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

CrazyChristmasLady · 01/01/2011 11:53

Pinkem sorry not near you and black wouldn't go with front room, have recently decorated it. Thanks anyway though.

Just it isn't just when I am pregnant, this does make it worse, but I have a long term health condition that makes me very achy in general and theses sofas do seem to be 'getting to me' more and more. I also worry about DH's back problems as his back often goes and it can't be good for him either.

Definitely no room for another chair and it would drive me up the wall to have something that didn't match the rest (I know it shouldn't matter but I wouldn't be able to even look at the room I have issues! )

OP posts:

borderslass · 01/01/2011 11:57

We have a leather suite and are in the process of looking for another one would really recommend one, but go and try them out some are a lot harder than others.

Plumm · 01/01/2011 11:57

YANBU for wanting a new sofa if the old ones are really that bad.

Have you tried gumtree, free cycle, etc?

If you go for a free for a year deal, do you know what state your finances will be in next year when you have to start paying?

DaisySteiner · 01/01/2011 12:00

Can you actually afford the repayments? If so, YANBU but otherwise I think you'll have to wait.

atswimtwolengths · 01/01/2011 12:01

I've got a pair of big leather sofas that I've had for about fifteen years - they still look as good as new, which means I can't bloody justify buying new ones!

Original poster

CrazyChristmasLady · 01/01/2011 12:02

I've been looking online and there are deals where you can pay around £12 per month which would be totally fine, or obviously for a couple it would be double but as it would come out of my own spending money, I'm not that bothered.

If worse came to worse, I have a small amount of savings to pay off the rest but I don't like to use it as it is my emergency money and I am trying to save for a deposit, which is going to take years. I could use it and buy a sofa outright but that would mean starting saving from scratch again and as I cannot work, I have to save what I can, where I can. Have had a major clearout recently and sold loads of stuff to put into savings but don't have much left to sell now.

OP posts:

Macrophage · 01/01/2011 12:03

We're having exactly the same debate at the moment!

If your thinking of dfs the website works out your monthly bills for you. If you can afford it then you might aswell go for it.

Original poster

CrazyChristmasLady · 01/01/2011 12:04

atswim that would suit me fine to have them that long and still look good! I knew when we got the ones we have, they weren't going to last but at that time, we needed something as we had no sofas and we just moved into an unfurnished flat and we had to buy nearly everything so we just got a couple of cheap Argos sofas to get by on.

OP posts:

Firawla · 01/01/2011 12:13

maybe get one that you pay a few years later? or instead of buying 2 when you cant afford it, just have one sofa? unless you really really need two?
we have crappy fabric sofa too so i know what you mean, ours used to be old landlords and they gave it to us for free so we just took it.

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 01/01/2011 12:16

Beware though, in thinking you can buy it today and have it next week

We bought 2 lovely leather sofas a few years back, paid upfront and they took 3 months to arrive, to be manufactured and shipped from overseas... Everything is made abroad

Plus they are now 3 years old, and if your as impulsive as you say, like me, you will tire of them, like we do new cars... The thought of sitting on a sofa for 3 years and to still not have paid for it... Would rather do without

ivykaty44 · 01/01/2011 12:16

could you not get second hand sofa and avoid all VAT and get a bargin. There will be plenty of second hand sofas for sale as there will be pletny of purcahse by others over the holdiays

JodiesMummy · 01/01/2011 12:22

YANBU get a leather sofa I had cheap Argos foam sofas when pregnant with DD and my back was terrible. You are just about to have a new baby so you will be spending lots of time indoors and leather is wipeable as well. I would say that if your monthly payments are as low as £12 you will be paying forever though, possibly when the sofa is completely knackered you will still be paying! I pay £70 a month and it will be paid in June its taken 2 years.

Original poster

CrazyChristmasLady · 01/01/2011 12:22

Good point, we wouldn't get it straight away, forgot about that.

Wouldn't mind second hand but tbh I can't be bothered with the faff of visiting others houses, having to decide then and there then we would have to sort out delivery, we couldn't take them away. Would rather go into a shop and have the choice there and then and plus we would have to have all the money up front for second hand.

DH has agreed we can go and look. If I don't see a good enough bargain, I won't bother. I am impulsive but when it comes to big purchases I am very careful and it has to be the right one before I buy it. I got a whole bedroom suit in the end of MFI sale which would have been £1400 but I paid £600 and I absolutely love it and know that it will last me until it literally falls apart and even then I will be gutted as I really fell in love with it and knew it was worth the money.

OP posts:

iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 01/01/2011 12:24

Not being nasty, read that back!

Yanbu for wanting them, but by time you get them your enthusiasm may have waned on the plus side I find them so good to keep clean, even with a cat, no scratching!

Try ebay maybe, the above poster is right, some people. chanhe decor like its going ouy of fashion

JodiesMummy · 01/01/2011 12:26

SCS were really good they did take 3 months to deliver though. I paid an extra £95 for the leatherguard and it covers all accidental pet or child damage they will replace both sofas no arguments (they have to replace both as they cant match the colour just for one).

borderslass · 01/01/2011 12:30

dfs is a 3 month wait from order to delivery.

newbeliever · 01/01/2011 12:35

My cats have started scratching my beautiful new leather sofas

I had been v pleased with them and they are much easier to keep clean, especially with young children and sticky fingers around.

The cats are now banned from the lounge

tallulah · 01/01/2011 14:04

Sofa companies usually have a few that are either display models or been ordered and returned. These are cheaper and you get them quickly.

FWIW we had a leather corner unit 4 years ago, with the insurance and the "leatherguard". It quickly got filthy despite pre-treating and mopping up spills immediately, then went shiny. It was always cold to sit on and a sleeping baby placed on it woke up immediately.

The cats damaged it with their claws and the insurance only covers one incidence of "pet damage".

When we moved we bought fabric. The pattern hides any dirt and sleeping toddler stays asleep when laid on it. Wouldn't ever have leather again.

ChezzaB · 01/01/2011 20:56

We had the same problem last year except we wanted to get rid of a leather sofa and get a fabric one instead because I find leather cold! We went to DFS and got an amazing sofa and chair at a really reasonable price. The sales lady went through al the price options with us and the repayments were really reasonable although I actually had a few quid I had been squirreling away for such a time as this so just paid it off. The delivery was really prompt and professional and we're really happy with our purchase.

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