Have to agree. WE bought a 2nd small freezer as I can go to CostCo and get big industrial packs of meat etc
As for a dishwasher - there is only 2 of us and I didn't think we needed one in the new kitchen but glad we have it now

I wouldn't want to be without a freezer. As I live on my own it's more economical to do big batch of something and freeze it in portions so a meal involves defrosting something and maybe adding pasta/potatoes/rice and some veg depending on what it is. Only tend to go shopping once a week.

The last time I was in a working environment that kept me away from the house for 12 hours or more a day, I was either being fed at work or I would be so mentally and physically exhausted when I got home that even the simple action of taking something out of the freezer and microwaving it would have been too much effort.

Same here, and corner shops are really pricey.
Also had tons of wastage from veg going off during the week so buying frozen veg.
no dishwasher though.
Apart from that nearly all my furniture apart from soft furnishings are second hand, appliances came with the flat.

Couldn't agree more. We're both out of the house for way too many hours, and there are far better things to do with our time than washing blooming dishes. That reminds me... I must do some research on those vacuum cleaners that operate themselves. Or do a better job of training the kids

I've been brought up in a working class background. There were times we couldn't afford an extra penny when the price of milk went up by 1p. I more than appreciate the value of things but I also don't want to live the way we did when we were kids.


Then that's by your own choice. Living with parents, we had a family of five and the dishwasher would only get used when there was more washing up to do than could easily be done. Maybe once every two months on average. A freezer had always been invaluable either as a single person in a flat or with family or groups of students. It's meant I can cook and store in advance. It's meant I can enjoy frozen produce. I could do without it in the same way I really don't need a car. I could still get around but life would be more difficult.

Then you're lucky. Unless I go to a 24-hour supermarket, there's no way I'd be able to shop at local stores. By the time I get home, most places are shut.[/quote]


+1. We do a once weekly shop, and a top up of milk and maybe a few ingredients on Wednesdays.

I'd argue a dishwasher is more of a luxury but other half wants one and is going to spend some money on buying one. I'm not gonna say no. It's a reasonable thing to want. I picked up the keys last week but there's no rush to move in but we don't want to wait forever for custom-built furniture.

At the moment, all modern electronics like TV, hi-fi can take a backseat and wait. IMO as long as we can reasonably function as a household, then I'm happy. Everything else can be built up over time.

We use a computer with a large screen as TV. much cheaper than buying a new one.

I plan on buying a nice TV as I've stuck with a 20" in my bedroom and whilst it's fine there, it's too small for movies (watching a film on my 17.3" widescreen laptop on my lap is better). But happy to save for this. I'll probably look at a decent AV setup sometime next year. Or maybe around Xmas if there are good deals on.

I don't own a TV or a car either (all though I do own a share of the band van). And I do own lots of things that most of you would find completely unnecessary, but that's because they are useful to me. What I was trying to say is, start by buying the things that you actually need, rather than what you think you want or that society assumes you have to have. Don't get something just because there's already a space for it in the house as it is currently is.

The important things for me are: somewhere to sit (sofa), somewhere to sleep (bed), somewhere to stick food (fridge) and somewhere to wash clothes (washing machine). Dryer helps because drying indoors causes problems and weather isn't always conducive to drying outdoors. Dishwasher (as I've conceded above) isn't necessary but fiancee wants.

Even things like dining room table and chairs I'm happy to hunt around for, and the remainder of furniture eg bedside table can be bought at a later date.

I cook meals from scratch in the evening. I never eat ready meals. I also fit in my aqua fit twice a week and go more if I can fit it in.

Try to be in bed by 10.30pm but there's plenty of times I have late ones and still get up for work as a certain forumite can corroborate.

The pressure is taken off slightly these days as I can work from home once a week.

When I had a new fridge freezer I didn't throw out the old one so I have it in the garage as an overflow one. I also have my own fridge in case I have a party and need extra space for booze. It is a HUGE garage though lol

In fact for a single person I have tons of space.

We still have my wife's old freezer and fridge in the cellar. They are there for big family events, then they are turned on to store meat for grilling or for cakes, buffet dishes etc.

Does anyone have experience of American style fridgefreezers? Quite like the look of them.

Check you can actually get it into your kitchen. A friend has one, and getting it into place turned out to be a complete nightmare due to it's larger than standard fridge freezer size. IIRC he had to remove the a doorframe to make the opening big enough to fit it through. So measure up carefully before choosing one.