Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What’s it like to have a new car/kitchen/bathroom?

66 replies

Pinkypantspurple · 07/09/2025 19:17

I just wondered. What is it like to have a new car ? A new bathroom? A new kitchen? Built in wardrobe?

It feels like we have scraped to get married ( tiny wedding ) get out car ( 2013 model). I’m honestly just wondering what does it feel like to be able to get a new bathroom? It’s my dream but I think it would be 10 years on minimum.

We have a 2 and 3 year old. Nursery fees are finally down to £700 for both. We know we can’t afford a 3 bed where we are. So we have a 2. We are lucky as we get buy every month and manage to save £250 .We have no debts . We go on a cheap all inclusive all year and we are happy and healthy

I just wonder what does it feel like to have something new ? Or design it ! I dream
of designing a kitchen.

I think I’m seeing far too many kitchens on instagram and dream! We currently have an undercounter fridge which has been going 10 years. I dream of a big fridge !!

AIBU to dream of having some ‘new’ things which I have picked !!! Oh to dream !

OP posts:
1offnamechange · 07/09/2025 20:36

It's fine, I guess?

tbh lots of those things don't have to be that expensive. I have a brand new car for the first time in 20 years of driving. There was a really good deal on which made it cheaper than 2nd hand versions of the same model. It was quite nice to be the first one driving it, and was cleaner when I got it than any other car I've been in, even ones that have been professionally valeted, and it's nice not to have to worry about MOTs etc for a few years, but still have to have it serviced, pay for new tyres etc.

A few months in it's lost the new car smell and cleanness, and I don't feel any different driving it than I did any other car. It's not a fancy car though so maybe that's why?

Same with built in wardrobes - the previous owners of my house had one and took it with them when they went so if I hadn't had one I'd have had to have new skirting boards etc put in anyway. It looks nice but was an ikea job, and honestly wasn't really much more expensive than buying separate new ones, let alone the time spent putting them all together.

I could afford a new kitchen but cba with the hassle.

tbh if I got to the point where my 'dreams' were about having new kitchen appliances I'd be having a word with myself. It's not like you'll be reminiscing about your american fridge freezer on your deathbed, is it?

reversegear · 07/09/2025 20:37

It feels lovely and so is much better when it’s been grafted for, we didn’t own a home until we were in our 40s and I dreamed of a kitchen, bathroom cars etc and after 20 years of running my business I finally started to make profits that allowed us to renovate. I enjoyed every moment, the choosing the installing etc.

We are back to a smaller place and renovating again and I’m about to take a dive in salary but keep going and keep dreaming!

TangledBedHair2day · 07/09/2025 20:48

I presume that you had 2 new babies ?

TimothyIsNotAnArmardillo · 07/09/2025 21:06

Never had a new car or bathroom.
About five years ago we had our first new to us kitchen - I love it, but as with everything in life what we had was dictated by budget.
I still smile every time I walk in there - mind you, the old kitchen that we'd lived with for 18 years was hideous.

Soontobe60 · 07/09/2025 22:16

DH and I downsized once our DDs left home. We struggled a bit throughout most of their childhood - not massively but didn’t have many new things. Once we downsized, we released enough money to update our new house and had a new bathroom, kitchen, flooring, decorating throughout and new furniture. We also got a new car! I’ve never had do many new big things at the same time and it was fantastic! 10 years on, the kitchen and bathroom still look good, we’re about to redecorate and bought a new sofa a couple of years ago. It seems that it’s kids that ruin your house 😂

estellacandance · 07/09/2025 22:58

I’ve never had any of these yet don’t feel hard done by.

I just want the things I have to work.

blubberball · 07/09/2025 23:00

My car is from 2008.

My partner got a new front door fairly recently. Was devastated when it got a little scratch on it.

I think having new stuff can be a bit stressful. Sometimes, I'd rather have old crap that no one wants to steal, and it doesn't matter if it gets scratched or dented

3pears · 07/09/2025 23:12

We had a new bathroom and kitchen when we moved into our house when DS was newborn. It was a new build so we could choose tiles etc.

we couldn’t afford 2 kids in nursery at the same time though so had a wait a while to have DD.

never had a brand new car but have never really wanted one- I’m prone to scratching cars!

MrsPengiuins · 07/09/2025 23:12

We are just getting a new bathroom put in right now and love it though missed having an upstairs toilet whilst it was being put it.

We did a renovation project when our kids was 2 and 3 buying a house that needed everything doing - that was a bit crazy - going to work then coming home to a building site and a 2 and 3 year old. Also young kids can trash new things. Though it is nice to have designed things yourself and see end result. Hope you get to do that one day.

TwoBlueFish · 07/09/2025 23:23

I’m in my mid 50’s and have never had a new kitchen. My current kitchen is probably 35 years old, we just replaced the oven as it broke! I have had a new bathroom (10 years ago), my dad fitted it. I’ve had 1 new car which was prior to having kids (20+ years ago). I had my new kitchen all picked out about 18 months ago then had an unexpected large expense which had to come first.

Travelfairy · 07/09/2025 23:26

Never had a brand new car. Had new kitchen and extension 5 years ago. Had builders here for 13 weeks 🙈 not fun but worth it in the end. Getting a new bathroom in next few months. Its exciting but stressful. OP you sound lovely, I hope you get some of your wishes sooner rather than later x

BourgeoisBabe · 07/09/2025 23:29

I was in my fifties before I had a new kitchen and bathroom. I can't lie, it's amazing!

youalright · 07/09/2025 23:31

Iv never had a new car and i personally don't have any interest in one they devalue significantly the second you drive it. Never had a new bathroom and we recently got a new kitchen but took years to save for and we sacrificed a lot for e.g. haven't had a holiday or even a weekend away in years.

limescale · 07/09/2025 23:39

I got a new bathroom 3 years ago. It is my absolute pride and joy. The rest of the house is tired (artex, kitchen cupboard doors falling off, really old white goods, 30 years old carpets). I love my bathroom.

Makingpeace · 07/09/2025 23:40

ElfAndSafetyBored · 07/09/2025 19:30

I find it quite stressful to be honest - as grateful as I am for the new things I have had in the past.

With building projects there’s always something that isn’t quite right, or not quite how you imagined, or something gets chipped way too soon.

With a new car, the first time another car door gets whacked into it or you scrape it on something is painful.

Agree, stressful. So many questions to answer that I'd never even considered, like which shade of grout would you like, e.g. choose from grey number 1 all the way up to grey number 17? Oh you've got 5mins to decide. Which orientation would you like the tiles? Why didn't you plan it like this/that, it would be much better? Now we've ripped this bit out, there's this other bigger problem underneath....oh and that'll be another 2k please. BTW your electrics are so shockingly ancient we can't possibly leave you with them in this state, so we'll just have to disconnect them for a week and rewire. And the boiler. Then you'll need a full house rewire, new circuit board and replacement combi boiler. That's neither 5k please. And while I was up the ladder I spotted a hole in your roof. Another 10k. Yes I know you only started as a kitchen refit project but now it seems to be a whole house refurb. Another 3k please for those thingamajigs. Ahh, there goes the plasterer. He had a fall-out with the plumber so he isn't coming back....wait another week for the other plasterer to join the team...can I have another biccie?

Etc etc.

Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride · 08/09/2025 08:14

Lovely
I've lived in my house for 30 years and we put up with our early 80s/designed for an older lady kitchen and bathroom. Couldn't afford to change due to kids/life/being skint for years. New kitchen last year and new bathroom this. It's great to have rooms that are easy to clean,look stylish and im not embarrassed by.

BertieBotts · 08/09/2025 08:22

We did our whole kitchen including sink and new dishwasher and extractor fan (but reusing existing fridge freezer and built in oven and hob) from IKEA stuff for about €2500 all in. If you can build IKEA furniture and drill holes in walls, you can do it. It was easier than I thought, and a lot of fun to play around with the designs etc. even the plumbing stuff was much easier than we thought, it's just screwing stuff together (we have no gas to worry about, wouldn't have done that DIY.)

We didn't need to get rid of the old kitchen luckily - we live in a country that renting means you often get a totally bare room for a kitchen. Getting rid of old bits and dealing with any high voltage electricity or gas connections might add extra costs. Overall though, highly recommend this as it was such a satisfying project.

tripleginandtonic · 08/09/2025 09:02

My theory is you get as much enjoyment over shopping for a second hand car as a new one.

venus7 · 08/09/2025 19:07

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 07/09/2025 19:25

I've never had anything new. Never got to design my own kitchen/bathroom/bedroom. Never had a brand new car. I only really miss it when I'm reading through those homestyle magazines where everyone seems to talk about their remodelling or renovating their houses.

I'm just almightily glad that I have a house and I work around its eccentricities.

This...the way to happiness or contentment is to be grateful for what you have......not Pollyanna sentimentality, but gratitude. I have just bought a washing machine, first I've ever owned, always used someone else's or launderette till now. Utter luxury not lugging wet laundry around. It's been three weeks, and I'm still delighted!

NuovaPilbeam · 08/09/2025 19:12

I bought a new car once.

It felt really swish for about 24 hours, i felt really good.

Then it dawned on me just how much money I'd pissed away just for it to feel brand shiny new and I realised for me it wasn't worth it.

I've never been remotely tempted by a brand new car since.

NuovaPilbeam · 08/09/2025 19:14

Agree, stressful. So many questions to answer that I'd never even considered, like which shade of grout would you like, e.g. choose from grey number 1 all the way up to grey number 17? Oh you've got 5mins to decide. Which orientation would you like the tiles? Why didn't you plan it like this/that, it would be much better? Now we've ripped this bit out, there's this other bigger problem underneath....oh and that'll be another 2k please.

This! We had a new bathroom 3 years back and it was exactly this. "Ah, the upgraded sink you wanted has arrived but look, it doesn't fit unless that tile overhangs by an inch and looks shit".

I know some people love a reno, i am not one of them.

YouOughtToSeeADoctorAboutThat · 08/09/2025 22:14

bumbaloo · 07/09/2025 19:38

So 25 years ago did you have a brand new kitchen?

Show quote history

Yes, from Wickes, on a credit card. (a friend fitted it)

Gentlydoesit2 · 08/09/2025 22:20

How much are we talking for a "cheap all inclusive"?? I was astounded at the cost of those holidays compared to the cheap DIY holidays we do 😜 the difference between the two over 3-4 years would pay for us to have a new bathroom

Didimum · 08/09/2025 22:22

It’s very lovely, but stressful to organise and cope with the work happening. New car is fun and not stressful.

Gymbunny2025 · 08/09/2025 22:22

Honestly I love having new cars, choosing the spec and colour etc. it’s fun. And we’ve always put new kitchens and bathrooms into our homes- it’s very stressful but I enjoy it.