Things that should last a lifetime

[Imtoooldforallthis]

I am 55, and hoping to retire in a few years. I am trying to upgrade some things to better quality to last either a lifetime or a good twenty years, while I am still earning.

I've started with my dinner service, I have a plain white dinner service which I've had for 30 years, but I have upgraded my everyday set to Denby. However 2 bowls and one mug has already chopped, so not impressed

Also upgraded my pressure cooker to an instant pot, my old food processor which had broken to a magimix. I have also ordered a la creusot frying pan which has a lifetime guarantee.

What would you buy that you would expect to last.

My KitchenAid (KitchenMaid?) . But you've gone for a magimix so may not need it.

What about kitchen knives?

To be honest, most of my stuff lasts forever. I add to it, but rarely have reason to get rid of anything!

Beware with your choices- le creuset and Denby are both very heavy. My wrists get sore, so I avoid heavy pans now and will move on from my Denby when the last of it breaks!

I have a a kenwood Chef that I've had for 15 years and I have a couple of japenese fold steel knives that should last. I was thinking if bedding, but it is soo expensive I'm not sure I could warrent the expense.

Depends what it is. If it's visible, I'd want to ring the changes occasionally (every ten years, so far!).

However, I got a wool pillow, topper and duvet. They show no signs of wearing out and may well last a lifetime! We use singles on a double bed, so he hasn't got one, just me!

Really good quality stainless steel saucepans? I agree with picklemewalnuts about weight. Pottery weighs more than china. That's why stainless steel pans might be a better bet than Le Creuset. The Magimix was a good buy I think, especially as you can buy replacement parts.

Towels and bedlinen last well but other things break, even if they are supposedly better quality. I have bought so many irons (ok, my fault for ironing ). Mind you, other things like crockery and cutlery are cheaper in real terms than in the past.

I agree about stainless steel pans, no plastic handles (all welded), no non stick. Our John Lewis classic set is 10 years old, can go through the dishwasher and a stainless steel scourer gets burnt stuff out. www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-classic-stainless-steel-lidded-saucepan-set-3-piece/p2647369

The frying pan and milk saucepan are the exception due to my need for non-stick for those! A fairly standard Wok lasts forever too.

Other similar designs with welded handles would do as well. More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better - the materials and design are more important.

Generally stainless steel solid kitchen utensils last forever, but might scratch non-stick things.

Stainless baking trays are my next plan - baking sheets always get rusty. Commercial kitchens use stainless!

Garden furniture? My cheap plastic stuff has lasted well, next I might go for commercial style aluminium. My hardwood bench needs treating so often.

Furniture? Ikea cardboard and plastic is cheap and looks modern, but good solid wood pieces should last. Painted stuff always chips, natural material finish are more resistant to ageing.

Electronics are a nightmare. Radios used to last forever, but these days TVs, speakers etc run out of software support and wither and die. I have a 10 year old laptop that has done really well, but tablets and phones seem to go out of support too soon so become less usable due to app support rather than a fundamental issue with the device breaking.
White goods don't seem to be designed to last either. I find going for the simplest electronics possible is the best approach.

What a lovely thing to be planning!

Unfortunately in my own life I always bought stuff 'for ever' - Le Creuset saucepans, Jil Sander suits, Globetrotter suitcases, vintage silver cutlery, beautiful hardback books ... Just a pity I'm blessed with a chronic inability to keep hold of possessions. Every house move, relationship break up, illness, job change, career smash, travel adventure has meant the inadvertent loss / abandonment / giving away / forgetting in another country of a good proportion of things I owned and loved.

So now, looking around my locked-down household, other than books and a couple of armfuls of clothes, there's really nothing I expect to have for even another five years.

The KitchenAid saucepans were a stupendous buy, though ...

My advice would be not to renew anything unless you absolutely have to. E.g. my parent's boiler is 40+ years old, still going strong and relatively simple to repair (for an expert). Modern ones seem to need replacing every 8-10 years.

They are still using the electric carving knife they had as a wedding present in 1969. I've had three since I married in 1992.

Stuff just isn't built to last anymore.

Good quality bedding, towels, shoes and clothes would be my exceptions.

DSIL has bought a dualit kettle after she researched long lasting kettles.

@ I second Dualit. They are semi commercial in that you can get parts to fix them. They are designed to last or be repairable.

My dualit toaster is now 25 years old.

Are the dualit toasters worth getting?, we have a hot tap so don't need a kettle.

My Miele washing machine and Miele tumble dryer have both been going for about 10 years and are still going strong. Previous cheaper machines have only lasted about 2 years due to overuse.

And are the newer ones as good quality as the older ones.

we have had a dualit toaster and not been impressed, it couldn't be repaired, now we have
ao.com/l/toasters-rowlett/1-6/55-106-79/
rowlett toaster, designed for commercial kitchen, you can opne it up and repair it
I agree about the stainless steel pans, we have one that is nearly 30 years old and still looks good
In general if you buy commercial stuff it will be more durable, eg hotel grade bed linen and towels
the WORST things are tinopeners and salt/pepper grinders I have wasted so much money trying to get a good quality tin opener that will last, they never do and I am now resigned to buying the cheapest one and replacing frequently

I have a steamer ( large metal/stainless steel pan with a steamer attachment + lid) that is well over 30 years old .
There was a solid insert that I don't have now ( no idea what happened to it)
It still looks good , goes in the DW and is used most days .
Good size for pasta .
Par boiled potatoes then go in the steamer bit to drain.

I've looked at electric steamers but nothing comes close to this for practicality

My Prestige stainless steel saucepans were a wedding present and are 40 years old. They are as good as new. I had some lovely Le Creuset but would never buy again as I found the interior enamel wore off. I never use non-stick as I find they do not last and are unnecessary if you cook at the correct temperatures.

Hopefully you’ll have your Magimix a very long time. Me & DH bought ours just before we got married 33 years ago and it’s still going strong!!

I'd recommend organic cotton bedding, the brushed ones and the normal; I've had some since the early 90s and they're still good, maybe a button or 2 needs replacing on the duvet covers but nothing else. They're also much more comfortable than any others esp. the poly \cotton mixed ones. I can't bear those now! Too hot.

The bits I've invested in that are still going strong:

Global Knives and an excellent sharpener- 7 years
Le Creuset pots and pans - 15 years so far
Peugeot salt and pepper mills - 7 years
Dualit toaster - 11 years
Miele washing machine and tumble- 7 years
Magimix - 7 years
Yves Delorme bedding - still lovely after 7 years

I love your plan for retirement and it makes complete sense to buy while earning. I'm miles off retirement sadly but am continuing on our home improvements quickly while we're still earning.

We bought a fantastic set of stainless steel saucepans in Berlin. They have lasted 20 years and are still absolutely fine. DH is an extreme cook! He burns so many things and they STILL clean up nicely. We've dropped the glass tops, not a scratch. They pile up nicely in the cupboard too. They're called CookStar by Fissler Also ,even better. they were made in Germany not China

We have Le Creuset too I like them for soups etc. but they don't last so well.

Miele washing machine and vacuum cleaner- both 14 years old and heavily used, never gone wrong. 10 year guarantee not needed!