AIBU to spend 1/3 of my pay check on an armchair?

[millerjane]

I know it's a ridiculous amount for 1 piece of furniture but I am tempted.

I'm in the fortunate position that my first (grad) job is within commuting distance from my family home (therefore I do not have to pay rent). Living at home is great but my parents LOVE parenting iykwim - despite being pretty independent and competent they will still treat me like a child.

My bedroom has become my sanctuary. Luckily for me it's a good size and somewhere I can escape to for a bit of privacy/alone time. I've splutged a bit on doing it up,

I've been looking for a snuggly armchair to watch tv/read on but haven't really been able to find what I'm looking for. Literally the only armchairs I like are in excess of £1k.

AIBU to spend so much of my paycheck on a chair. I think it would make me immensely proud to know I've been able to buy something special for myself/through my own hardwork.

It would mean having fewer savings for a month and not putting anything into my holiday pot so no crazy ramiifcations.

I've included a pic of the style I want but would opt for a different colour and fabric. I should mention I would have to lie to my parents about how much it costs.

If you have to lie to your parents then they are probably refusing rent from you thinking you are saving as much as you can. You would be very unreasonable to spend this much on a chair when you could save that money.

It isn't about spending what you like because it is your money. The reason you have spare cash is because someone else is paying out for you.
If you want to spend your money on whatever you like then do that - but after you are actually self sufficient.

If you were in your own place paying your own bills then of course buy whatever you like/can afford.
But you are not.

Check reviews where possible before you buy though, as you can avoid expensive mistakes with feedback like takemetomars has posted. Don't buy on looks alone, go sit on some where you can. It's like buying shoes: the fit is more important than the looks if you want to be able to use them for their intended purpose.

And YY to saving a sensible amount too, you'll never regret that.

Hope you find something nice

Of course you should buy it. It will make your room more comfortable to you and when you do leave home you will have at least one nice chair to sit on. We had two camp chairs in our first flat!

Are you in the US? You get 3k post tax for your first job, that's loads isn't it. I'd suggest you save for your own home, I have no idea how mortgages work in the US but a lump sum deposit is surely a good thing in any country

I second going to ikea. You don’t know if the armchair will fit in the next place you live, or if you are actually going to find it comfy. For that price you could buy something that reclines a little, which is more comfy .

Just because the OP used the word 'pay check' it does not make her from the US! My DDs use americanisms a lot and are 100% Scottish! They just watch a lot of American TV and both spent a summer working in the states.

I just bought this armchair: www.dunelm.com/product/rupert-velvet-armchair-1000158021?colour=Bottle+%28Green%29&defaultSkuId=30663904

It's a lovely, deep chair for curling up with a book, under £300.

In your shoes, I'd buy something similar and save the other £700 towards a deposit.

The only thing I'd be concerned about would be the size of it, for fitting in your next place.

Other than that, go for it! And congrats on your job.

Go for it! Don’t listen to the naysayers. Well done you for your achievements

Go for it, nothing to do with anyone but you how you spend your wages and even better if parents don't want rent 😀

@Ofitck I also love your chair! Which one is it? Can’t find on Ikea website!

If you can afford it without issues then I don't see the issue.

I've always been taught to spend extra money on anything that separates you from the ground. Beds, chairs, tyres, shoes etc. Look after your body with high quality stuff and you'll be less likely to suffer from aches and pains later in life. It's an investment into your future health.

Thanks @HermioneKipper it is the stocksund one here

www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/stocksund-series-28817/

BUT you the Ikea fabrics are horrible - if you go into Ikea rather than buy online you can buy the chair without the fabric, and get the cover from somewhere else, mine is from here and its the dove velvet and absolutely dirt proof - they send free samples and I did my best to destroy them. They also can come off and be machine washed. I have two sofas and a bench in it too!

soferia.co.uk/index.php?fc=module&module=leoproductsearch&controller=productsearch&orderby=position&orderway=desc&search_query=Stocksund+chair

Of course spend it on an amazing chair if you want. People blow that amount on all kinds of rubbish. A chair will last for decades.

Absolutely this. People will buy new cars that lose thousands in value the instant they sign the agreement or on meals out and booze. If you smoked 20 a day, you'd spend that in killing yourself in three months.

If you have the money and want to spend it on something that will last, relax and bring you happiness for years, why ever not.

The only thing I wouldn't recommend is being deliberately dishonest to your parents. If you were a truly independent adult, it would be none of their concern; but as they effectively sub a great deal of your life (willingly, it seems), I wouldn't lie to them about it.

If you have to lie to your parents then they are probably refusing rent from you thinking you are saving as much as you can.

That’s what I wondered too.

What is the reason you’d have to lie to your parents? If they won’t accept rent because they think you’re saving up for a deposit or whatever then you would be very unreasonable to spent £1k on a chair and lie to them about it.

If they don’t charge you rent because they don’t want to and not because they think you’re saving/being sensible with your money then YANBU. It’s your money.

I think you should get it and when you do find your own place it can go with you and it will be 1 less thing to buy.
If your parents dont want you to pay board that's their choice and no one elses.
Great that you help out and take them out aswell, I'd of loves to of been in that position when I was at parents home still.
Good luck

YANBU to buy a piece of good quality furniture that will improve your quality of life and make you happy.

I don't think that chair is good quality though. It's more style over substance. Check out the reviews as a PP said. If you look, you'll find plenty about that brand on here.

I would either buy the cheap Ikea version or keep looking for your dream chair and put some money away every month to save for something better quality. I have a Matthew Hilton Balzac chair and footstool, and a Ligne Roset Togo sectional sofa that have lasted nearly 25 years. I also have my grandparents 1960s Ercol studio couch, although it has needed new cushions. They are all 2-3 times your budget but they have lasted probably 10 times as long as that armchair. They also have a decent enough secondhand resale value.

Alternatively, you will probably get almost as much enjoyment from the cheap Ikea chair and you won't care if the dog chews the legs or you spill a glass of red wine on it. You can get blue velvet loose covers for it.

And definitely start saving every spare penny to build up a deposit!

I haven’t spied where op mentioned lying to parents?

To be fair I’d have to lie to mine about the price even if I won the lottery she’d club me for buying something I could’ve got for less.

Shop around, double check measurements etc. Since you’re not buying a suite for the front room of your own home think through how long you’ll be at home how practical it’d be to match something to it and if it’d fit in a normal hall. If no to any of that get a cheaper nice chair that you won’t mind selling or getting recovered when you do move out.

OP, don't buy anything you haven't actually sat in, curled up in, shuffled round on etc. You may find the arm rest too high or the lumbar support to soft or the whole thing too low etc.

is your rent free living with the expectation that you’re saving for your own property? If so YABU. If this is a long term arrangement just because your parents like living with you, YANBU.

Spend what you like but the older I get the happier I am when I pay less for something and save the difference. It brings me great joy and helps me save.

I've definitely seen similar styles for less.

Buy it and enjoy it

I would get the ikea one with covers from Bemz in the colour you want. You can change it / sell it when you get your own place as the large snuggle seat may not fit when you get your own place.

Buy the chair and enjoy it . Also buy the best you can afford and you’ll not have to replace it for many years if ever ( if it can be recovered ) .
Also save save save while you’re still living at home .

Don’t lie to your parents. Don’t be ashamed of buying items to last .