To be honest, we needed a newer car as DH drives through the clean air zones frequently and our old one wasn't reliable or suitable for this, plus having two small children and lots of ferrying round to do, we wanted a newer reliable car that wouldn't cause us too many issues. Unfortunately it has caused us a couple of "issues" so we have ended up getting a cheap little second hand car as a back up if and when the big one needs work doing. We lived for years with just one car, and it was fine when we lived more centrally, as if it broke we could make do, but we live rurally now and need reliable transport. We could have bought the car outright, but it was 0% Apr at the time we bought it so made more sense to just pay a small amount monthly than wipe out our savings. Same with the kitchen, we did actually have enough in savings to just pay for it upfront, but 5 years interest free, meant we weren't clearing out our savings, and paying the same amount but in a more manageable way. The kitchen wasn't great when we moved in here, and we wanted to put our own stamp on the house and make it work how we wanted it too, and as we spend alot of time cooking, and in the kitchen, we wanted to make it as functional and lovely as we knew it could be. We lived with the old kitchen for 5 years (while saving) to re-do it, and then when we were ready to have it done, the five years interest free credit meant we could use the money we've saved to pay for it, but while it still earns us a little interest too, seemed a no brainer really. DHs student loan just ended so the kitchen repayments have basically just replaced what he was paying towards that each month, hence not noticing the amount going out. We've actually agreed once we've paid off the big new car, we will sell and get another second hand one, as buying new has not been the trouble free motoring we were hoping for, and by that point, hopefully we'll be able to find an "older" car that will be ulez compliant meaning DH doesn't have to factor in those extortionate fees just to travel to work. I guess maybe it is generational, but a big factor is the fact that we know we earn well, and can make the repayments, and not struggle because of them. I'm not sure interest free credit was such a bit thing in our parents generation, so maybe wasn't as easy to access or as favourable then? As I said, we did save up for the kitchen, and were intending to pay for it up front, but actually putting it on an interest free credit arrangement meant we were no worse off, infact slightly better off, as we will accumulate a little bit of interest on the money that's just sat in that account, while the monthly payment trickles out. So yes, we have debt, but (not including the mortgage) it doesn't really feel like debt, as we have enough in savings to clear it all completely if we wanted to, just seems silly to do that, when we aren't paying any extra for the privilege of earning a little interest on the money in our account rather than theirs.