Is this some sort of rite of passage...?

[isthiswheretheendstarts]

A few months ago, my kettle broke. Dead, just that, wouldn't light up, wouldn't heat up, nothing. A younger me would have been so excited by this, a chance to go shopping, to buy something new, different, and fancy, whether I could afford it or not. The current me felt a pang of anxiety as I thought to myself "Oh God I hope they still make the same one, I like this kettle".

I went to Tesco. They still sold it. I didn't even look at anything else.

Just before Christmas, I happened to see the same kettle on offer. £18 for Clubcard customers, as opposed to £23 that I'd paid earlier on. I couldn't get that kettle into my trolley quickly enough. I felt smug yet secure, knowing I had another kettle "in case" (this is despite having a perfectly good kettle that I don't like which I keep for a spare).

I then forgot all about it until half an hour ago when I was rummaging in the cupboard for something else.

When did this happen? When do we switch from wanting something new to wanting the same as we already had??? And when do we start buying things so that we can be one in stock??? Anyone?

Er, I've never done that or felt like I needed to (and I am not young..), so feeling it's maybe more of a you thing...

That's actually quite funny. 😂

How old are you? I'm in my mid 50s and definitely still in the 'Ooh a good excuse to buy a new, different one!' phase.

48...I was 47 at the time.

I don’t think ‘we’ do this 🤣🤣

It may just be you…

I wouldn't buy a second version of something that had broken. Id buy something that isn't going to break. This is why I have a le creuset stovetop whistling kettle. Im hoping it will last me for the rest of my life.

I'd had it for at least three years. I thought that was great value for about £25 when you think what £25 does (or doesn't) buy you. A meal out would be that for one person and would only last for, well, one meal.

You must love that kettle 😆

It's the right colour, I like the shape, and (I am ashamed to admit this) I find it so easy to pick up because it's got what I call a sensible handle which makes it easy to lift. I never used to think about these things, but once I'd hit 40 I seemed to be obsessed about comfort 😅😩

I'll admit to being like you OP.

When something breaks down I very often try to replace it with the same, but usually can't.

I still have some films on video tape and atm I'm hanging on to an old video recorder - bought reconditioned off ebay some years ago- which won't even rewind the tapes properly because I know when it breaks down completely the tapes will need to go in the bin. I'm all for technology improving and providing new and better alternatives but I just wish dinosaurs like me could still obtain some of the older examples of it.

Nope. I had to return mine after less than 5yrs for a replacement because the inside was peeling and the black bit appearing in my tea. Probably a carcinogen by the looks of it as well.

Le Creuset claimed it had been boiled dry (over my dead body would that have happened!) but "agreed" to replace it outside of the warranty because it took me nearly 8 weeks to get them to actually response to me via email and I had to raise a complaint about the appalling service.

I then sold the new one on Vinted as BNWT and bought a Ninja electric kettle.

No, I feel this (a bit). I’m currently trying to stop myself stockpiling proper old Made in the UK wool jumpers on Vinted, because one day there won’t be any left to squirrel away.

kettle-wise, though, I need to replace ours now, and heart says Get a Dualit, but head says, Why did you bother getting a Which? subscription if you’re going to ignore it?

the getting of the Which? subscription before buying white goods is the rite of passage, if you ask me.

75, and never done this..my kettle worked ok, but the paint was peeling, I wanted light green, settled for plastic plus matching toaster because it won't rust.. would definitely expect far more than 3 years. DH mended DD kettle,it matched everything in her kitchen and the switch was loose on the base plate..I definitely know things don't last like they used to,crafty that!

If I had a really good kettle that had lasted a long time and then broke, I would buy it again, but not if I already had a spare! My liquidiser broke recently and I searched for spares and the same model before giving up and getting a food processor with all the attachments instead, it has it's uses but I miss my simple blender/grinder.

I don't buy stuff to have spare in case one breaks, as I don't want to store extras. I do find myself buying the same products on repeat if i like them, for instance skincare. When I was younger I would buy a different brand or try the latest "new" thing.
I suppose as I've got older the penny has dropped, really. The "new" things are much the same as the old things. It's all marketing hype.
Kettles are made with built in obsolescence these days, like other stuff. You can't fix them, only replace. Very wasteful.
PP with a cast iron hob kettle has the right idea.

Hell no and I’m older than you! In fact any excuse to buy something new. Last year my toaster broke so I was very excited to buy a four slice toaster upgrading from my two slice toaster. Then I saw there was a matching kettle so despite having a perfectly functional kettle I got the matching one and the old one is now going with son to uni!