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Last summer, I almost bought a new lawnmower. I was having trouble getting my current one started a few times, and I started thinking to myself how nice a new lawnmower would be. It would save me time, and would be easier to use, I remember thinking to myself. But after I thought about it for a while, I realized I should probably keep the lawnmower I have and “run it into the ground”, as they say. It’s easy to justify a purchase in your mind, but when I examined whether I really needed a new one, I came up with the following reasons I don’t need to make this purchase yet.
I don’t really need a new one because my old one still works- Sometimes, its pretty easy to talk yourself into thinking you need something when in reality it is not a need but a want.
I may save a little time, but it won’t add up to anything significant- Saving five or ten minutes every time I cut my lawn (which is pretty often in the summer) may add up over the course of a year or so, but will I really translate that time I am out doing yard work anyway into something useful or productive on the weekends? Probably not.
I can use the exercise by continuing to use a non self-propelled lawnmower- I am not 100% sure, but i would likely spend a little more money when I do eventually buy one for a self-propelled model. But in reality, it is probably good for me to “push” my old for as long as possible.
It keeps one more piece of junk out of the landfill a little longer- I have no doubt that when this one gives up it won’t be used by anyone else, so the longer I use it the longer it stays out of the landfill. However, another positive is that I am not starting to wear out a another (new) lawnmower, which means the one I am not purchasing yet will not be getting worn out and on its way to the landfill faster as well.
Image by Tom Chambers
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Great attitude. I had the same thoughts when considering buying a new bed. Mine is breaking but no less comfortable for it. By the time the children have bounced all over it, it will need replacing. At least they aren’t bouncing on the new one. If I can’t afford a new one when the old one breaks I can always put the mattress on the floor for a bit.
@Rachel:
Sometimes I find it hard to realize that what I think need I don’t really need. Good idea @ waiting for the kids to get finished with it, I have the same thoughts about replacing furniture!