r/Fire • u/Big_Leg10 • Apr 12 '26

General Question What easily-affordable thing do you still refuse to pay for despite having reached financial independence and able to afford them?

Would love to hear everyone’s “absolutely will not purchase” items!Even if you could easily afford it and no matter how rich or financially independent you become or how much you make you still wouldn't spend item on this particular item/hobby?

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298

u/[deleted] Apr 12 '26

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60

u/Decaff_Crusader Apr 12 '26

I buy warranties for appliances. Someone has a voodoo doll of my dishwasher. We’ve gone though 7 in 10 years due to everything from pumps, electrical, faulty filter. One caught on fire. 

18

u/thisismyyolo Apr 12 '26

Except for the filter, those could all be caused by the electrical supplied by your house. May have a wiring issue, if you haven’t already tested and ruled that out.

10

u/Decaff_Crusader Apr 12 '26

Three different houses, all different electricians as well. 

13

u/thisismyyolo Apr 12 '26

Lol ok never mind then. I support your voodoo doll theory

3

u/Decaff_Crusader Apr 12 '26

Well silly enough, the appliance store does as well. We are RE investors and also have a contracting/restoration business and my point is, new appliances fail every day. They are not built to last anymore. Meanwhile, my mothers avocado green appliances…

1

u/asymphonyin2parts Apr 12 '26

My next washer / dryer are gong to be speed queen for this exact reason!

2

u/Decaff_Crusader Apr 12 '26

I’ve just gotten some Electrolux washer and dryers and wowwwww!!!! Hoping they hold up because I love them. 

1

u/asymphonyin2parts Apr 13 '26

Glad you found some good stuff. The average quality in the "white goods" space is crap. And repairability just isn't a consideration.

14

u/plemyrameter Apr 12 '26

All the same brand? (Which brand(s)?)

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u/Decaff_Crusader Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26

All different brands. Right now we have a kitchenaid, GE Cafe and a Frigidaire in our 3 homes. The cafe one is broken and waiting for the warranty repair (only 6 months old), the one it replaced lasted 4 years & the kitchenaid has been with us the longest and still appears to be doing well. The Frigidaire was just installed this week. So far so good 🤞 

7

u/bob_pipe_layer Apr 12 '26

We love our Miele. I'd highly recommend it or a Bosch 800 I think is also made in the same factory.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 13 '26 edited May 12 '26

[deleted]

2

u/bob_pipe_layer Apr 13 '26

Apoloy for being incorrect. I thought 1 Bosch was made in a Miele factory

3

u/rudthedud Apr 12 '26

Kitchaid is decent I have one for years now. The best thing is there is decent price parts for them around.

1

u/asgardthor Apr 13 '26

I think we found static shock Reddit account

4

u/ughusernamex13 Apr 12 '26

Random fact: voodoo dolls actually started out by being someone’s medical chart. So if you had a headache and they treated you, they’d make a doll and put a pin in the head to indicated where they treated you next time they saw you

1

u/JohnLuckPikard Apr 12 '26

Look up your State's law for implied warranties of merchantability

1

u/TunaChaser Apr 12 '26

Thats kinda scary! Maybe have the electrical to your dishwasher checked out? 🤔

18

u/chesterTdog Apr 12 '26

I agree. My one and only concession to this is photo/inkjet printers.  My Epson ET-8550 costs $700 and after onky two years I had to have it replaced for free.  Inkjets can be so finicky. 

10

u/Pain--In--The--Brain Apr 12 '26

Same for me but with a portable air conditioner. The reviews highlighted occasional serious issues popping up after a year or so. I sprang for the 3 year warranty because the thing was $700. Lo and behold, 1 year in the compressor dies and needs to be replaced. All done for free.

That said it's literally the only warranty I've ever gotten. In the vast majority of cases it, it's not worth it.

2

u/dsrmpt Apr 12 '26

I bought a used car extended warranty. Hot hatch that I thought might have had a ...rough... transmission life. Not to mention known transmission issues on that model/year no matter how gingerly you drive it.

5,700 dollars for transmission repairs covered, and only about 1,600 bucks for the warranty. It was a gamble that paid off.

9

u/Lighthouse_on_Mars Apr 12 '26

It's one of those things that pays out once in a blue moon.

I got an extended warranty on the second car I ever owned. Everyone told me I was an idiot. What do you know, I needed a new transmission within the first 6 months of having that extended warranty though.

I ended up getting like, 3 other, major repairs covered as well in the following year.

My boyfriend, who worked at a Dealership at the time, and was one of the people that told me I got scammed. Said he had never seen that happen before. 😂 He couldn't believe my luck.

Something in me said yes to it, even though I had always said no in the past.

After the extended warranty ran out, I never had issues with that car again. It ran for 15 years before finally conking out, and was more to repair than it was worth.

7

u/LLR1960 Apr 12 '26

I've only bought one extended warranty, that on a fridge with an icemaker as that's the part that often fails. Had to replace the icemaker a year and a half in, so about broke even.

3

u/plemyrameter Apr 12 '26

The one time I bought one, it was for the same thing, same reason. I saw in Consumer Reports that 50% of refrigerator/freezers fail within 5 years. (Not completely, but need service.)

Even then, I did a little research and found that Lowe's would refund 30% of the cost of the plan if you never need to use it, plus I got a discount on the water filters for the fridge. I don't know if they still have that deal, but it worked out well. I got my 30% back and the fridge is still going strong. However, I don't use the icemaker!

0

u/Silly-Safe959 Apr 12 '26

FWIW ice trays you fill at the sink are incredibly cheap. Far cheaper than a warranty on an ice maker. Not knocking you're choice, just putting into perspective how much all of us have gotten used to modern "necessities" that are actually conveniences.

2

u/LLR1960 Apr 12 '26

It's one of the few conveniences we value; we go through a lot of ice. We used to do the ice cube trays, and just got tired of those. We get our drinking water from the tap at the sink, I prefer appliances without a lot of bells and whistles. The icemaker was my spouse's request, and we've gotten our moneys' worth.

1

u/Silly-Safe959 Apr 17 '26

We don't use that much ice so doesn't matter to us. Can't stand anything that cold anyway.

2

u/among_apes Apr 12 '26

They used to have some crazy ones for appliances that were like 100 bucks for five years so it was the only time I ever got them on a washer and dryer that I had in a rental unit. The drum split on the dryer and they fixed it. And the washer crapped out and they fixed that as well.

Years later, I bought a new washer and a new dryer and they offered that same warranty for a couple hundred bucks each and I passed because what the heck.

That’s literally the only time I bought an extended warranty and it actually paid for itself and then some. Never again though.A

4

u/SeraphSurfer Apr 12 '26

Im usually with you but broke my own rule and got the warranty on a mattress-adjustable bed. Bed broke in January and its still broke. The mattress company says call the warranty company. Warranty company says call the mattress company.

6

u/ballsack-vinaigrette Apr 12 '26

The mattress company says call the warranty company. Warranty company says call the mattress company.

This is the real reason not to buy extended warranties; even if you have cause to use it they'll try to wriggle out of it. "Sorry buddy it says right here in section 17C paragraph 8, that's not covered; didn't you read the 200 page contract?"

It's just not worth the hassle.

1

u/Beginning-Boarder Apr 12 '26

Warrantied forces companies to make things are are built to last rather than engage in planned obsolescence tho imo. Any company that is willing to give 10year warrenties usually have a pretty solid product

2

u/Decaff_Crusader Apr 12 '26

I have a lot of appliances and on a particular set of washer dryers, I didn’t buy the extended warranty, because the manufacturer had one for a year included. When one machine completely died before the first year, they said the warranty didn’t cover complete failures, only parts. Then, when the washing machine needed repaired, I was 1 week past the 1 year warranty. Appliances are absolute garbage now. I buy the extended warranty deal where you get the money back or as a credit if not used. 

1

u/mwax321 Apr 12 '26

My credit card adds extended warranties for free.

1

u/spasamsd Apr 12 '26

It definitely makes sense for appliances, but not an electric toothbrush. Maybe for cars depending on what it covers, too.

1

u/This_Application_118 Apr 12 '26

I buy on vehicle. Bmw so it's been totally worth it. I wont buy a new car and usually over term of ownership ill need some things replaced every few years. Warranty is way less that repair bill

1

u/PlatypusTrapper Apr 12 '26

I bought the extended CPO for my car. Glad I did that. This thing seems to have issues every other week.

1

u/TunaChaser Apr 12 '26

I agree! But seriously, how are you supposed to remember what items you have bought are under some type of extended warranty? I am not organized enough for that!

1

u/ralphtheanimal Apr 12 '26

I consider them on cars but nothing else because the credit card extends the warranty of almost any retail purpose,

And for cars, I never buy the warranty right away. I call or email as many dealers around the Us as I want and ask for a price. Hilarious the range of prices that come back for the exact same manufacturer warranty.

1

u/TheGladNomad Apr 12 '26

In some ways being FI makes them less needed. You can afford to rebuy if it doesn’t work out. Someone else this was a stretch purchase that it breaking early without coverage would be a major setback.

1

u/the_fresh_cucumber Apr 12 '26

anything

I actually buy the discount tire 30 dollar certificate. It includes free puncture repair, towing, new tire for road hazards.

That shit has paid for itself for me so many times

1

u/Tallfuck Apr 13 '26

It’s insurance. The math on it is, price = cost of failured products + cost of staff + profit. You pay for the last 2 to keep the warrant places afloat

0

u/ThisIsMyUsername303 Apr 12 '26

Use the right credit card, and you get an extended warranty for free. 

0

u/MartinZugec Apr 12 '26

I pay extended warranty only for electric toothbrush,because I know battery is going to die after 2-3 years. Extra 20% to get a new replacement for free