I paid $3K for a Stove!

[cschin4]

Here I am on frugal boards learning how to make things out of dryer lint. Then I spring and pay $3k for a professional style range for my kitchen remodel. So, I guess I have an odd definition of frugal. To me, being frugal means using my money to maximize my life and happiness rather than mindlessly frittering it away as I used to do. Now, I plan purchases and only buy things I think I will really use and enjoy as opposed to the useless junk I bought in bygone days. Of course, I now have people tell me they would "never pay that much for a stove". Perhaps THEY wouldn't but they seem to have no qualms spending that much to travel for 2 weeks. And, BTW, cash only, no debt or cc in case you are wondering!

[Ima saver]

If you like to cook that much, good for you!! I don't, I would rather eat out!!

[atomicrc11]

I wouldn't worry about it. First off, remodling a kitchen can help increase the value of your house. If you cook, even better. I love to cook and wouldn't think twice about spending that much on a good quality stove.

[cschin4]

Actually, I bought it on ebay. The retail value is $5400 so I think I did pretty good. It has 6 burners with 15,000 btu each and convection oven. I went and looked at retail stoves but I thought even the $1K ones were pretty junky looking and cheaply made with tiny burners. I want fire power!

[cschin4]

Hey, I am going to look darn good cooking my ramen noodles and Kraft Mac and Cheese over this stove! Ha!
As for cooking, I have 3 young kids so what better time? I really don't think I would want a stove like that later in life as I would probably prefer to just eat out. Right now, I enjoy cooking.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Congratulations.

So evidently, you researched and compared for quality, then you found a way to buy at decreased cost. That sounds frugal to me.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I guess I have an odd definition of frugal. To me, being frugal means using my money to maximize my life and happiness rather than mindlessly frittering it away as I used to do.

I don't think that is an odd definition at all. I've said many times that frugal is not the same as cheap. Frugal doesn't mean always spending as little as possible. It means getting the most value for your money. It means prioritizing your spending so that you devote more funds to things that are important to you and fewer funds to things that really don't matter much.

Enjoy the new stove. My wife would kill for one like it.

[rob62521]

Congrats on the new stove! And what's wrong with finding a deal on something you'll put to use? Plus, if you remodeled your kitchen, I'm sure having a professional stove will make your house worth more.

A few years ago I sprung for a better stove than I had and spent $800. It's not a commercial one, but it was far better than the cheapie model I had. It makes cooking much more enjoyable for me and it I feel it makes it easier -- the oven actually warms to 350 degrees, not somewhere near it. I feel like there's less waste because I'm cooking lots of things from scratch and they aren't being tossed because they either weren't cooked enough or through or too much. There's a difference between being frugal and being cheap. Frugal means finding the best deal for you. Being cheap is not spending anything you don't have to and just existing by choice.

[richinspirits]

i feel like i have the same mindset as you! the thing is, sometimes it's hard for my friends to understand. that i am frugal most of the time so that it enables me to make big purchases! while they'll sit there, seeming jealous that i could afford something like the stove you bought, or a trip to europe, while they smoke several packs of cigarettes a week or go to starbucks multiple times a day and don't seem to put two and two together!

i hope you enjoy your new purchase!!