Having to make a big purchasing decision is something everyone eventually faces in life.
The ones that come to mind right off the bat are the two most common ones: a house and a car/truck. In many instances, decisions about those things are made more than once in someone's lifetime. They aren't decisions to be made lightly because obviously both of them are big investments of the money you've worked hard to earn.
Most of the time, they work out. The new homeowners love their home, and the car or truck ends up running like a dream, giving you many miles of service. When these things fall into place, you almost feel like you won the lottery, that all the time spent researching and asking questions was worth it. I know I sure felt like I'd hit the jackpot after I bought my first home, and I've felt that way about every car I've bought.
But sometimes big purchasing decisions can go south in a hurry, and as I ponder my next one, I'm also looking back at a couple of recent ones that ultimately did not go well, for fear that I'll make the same mistake again.
SEE ALSO (VIP): The Highs and Lows of Home Repair Projects
We'll start with the first one, which I wrote about a couple of years ago and which continues to be a real sore spot for me.
To try to keep it brief, it was September 2024, and Mom really needed a new recliner, because the one she'd had for many years had seen its better days. This wasn't really an optional purchase; it was something that really needed to be done due to her mobility challenges and how hard it was getting for her to get out of it.
I did a lot of research on a new one, made sure to get good measurements, assess functionality, etc at the La-Z-Boy store since she couldn't go with me to test any out, and made a decision on one. While I was there, I decided I'd get one, too. Mine was old and was worn in to the point it was starting to get uncomfortable, so while I was at the store, I picked another one out. Both were "on sale," but I ended up getting customizations on both (upgraded handle and seat cushion for both) that bumped up the price a little bit.
After they were delivered, I was so excited for Mom to try hers out and for me to see if mine was as comfortable as the one I sat in at the store. Sadly, neither of them worked out for us. A family member took hers off our hands, and I ended up getting a power recliner for her from Amazon for $500, which has worked out beautifully. I still have mine, though, and I grumble at least once a week about needing to get something else.
By the time all was said and done, I was out about $3,500 between the cost of the recliners, the upgrades, the service agreements, the delivery, etc., because the company doesn't take returns on any custom orders. I knew that going into the purchase, but it was a bitter bill to swallow in the aftermath.
READ MORE (VIP): Caregiver's Diary Part 15: The La-Z-Boy Letdown
Next up was the purchase of two appliances. Mom and I decided in late 2025 that we wanted a side-by-side fridge, something that had more room than our traditional fridge and that had the icemaker and water dispenser. We also wanted to replace the over-the-range microwave, which had not worked for many years and which had me getting her a countertop one a while back until we had time to decide on a replacement.
The new microwave has worked out great. The fridge? Not so much. For starters, the clearance of a second door they needed to get it through to get it to the kitchen was just a shade too narrow, thanks to something that was attached to the fridge, so they ended up having to bring it through the back double doors. They seemingly got it in okay, but I later discovered damage to one of the doors that I ended up having to pay out of pocket to fix.
To make matters worse, the existing refrigerator water line we had was not one the delivery guys could use to hook up the ice maker/water dispenser. Because of course, there was something "different" about ours. So that meant I was going to have to have a plumber give me an estimate.
The estimates, which we got later, were between $700 and $950 to "do it right." I didn't spend quite $900 on the fridge itself, so I refuse to spend more on a line hookup than I did on the fridge, which means we won't be getting that line hookup anytime soon - if ever. So much for having an ice maker and water dispenser.
Total cost for the appliances, delivery, install, and the door repair was around $1,800.
I'll be purchasing a new (to me) vehicle in the next month, probably a crossover (like a Subaru Forester or something like that), and as I research availability and crunch numbers, it keeps popping into my mind, "what if I make the wrong call?' to the point that I keep having second thoughts, because the window to return a car is very short. Plus, this likely will end up being my "forever vehicle" so I want it to be a solid decision with no regrets.
As I mentioned earlier, I've been fortunate with my previous car purchases, and obviously I'm hoping that streak will remain unbroken after the next one. But you don't know how that's going to work out until you roll the dice. I pray that once all is said and done, my new wheels will be all that Mom and I hoped and prayed for and more.
Have you ever made a big purchase you ended up regretting? Feel free to vent about it in the comments.
