One thing leads to a flipping nother!

When you retire you suddenly have time to choose, instead of diving into the most convenient shop for something that will do! Enjoy replacing whatever you can afford and feel like. If you have not been to the Denby factory site it is well worth a visit, or take a trip round the Potteries factory shops! I have bought a heat resistant felt to fit my dining room table and cover it with a wipeable table cloth when DGC are staying, so much easier for art and craft and meal times.

Been there kitty, agree that a cooling off period can be helpful, if you still want it and the budget will cope after that then go for it. I find the more I want something the shorter the cooling off period is .

It's not so much buying stuff as knowing when to finish painting and decorating. Unless you carry on to the bitter end there is always another room looking shabby. We've just painted the bedroom but exhaustion has made us stop there!

I know the feeling, Kittylester! I decided recently that we needed a new duvet as ours is too thin. That's ended up with us replacing our ensuite in the New Year - surely the most expensive duvet ever, and I haven't even bought it yet!

Badenkate, that sounds a bit like us. We bought a silk runner carpet, in India, and had it sent home. It was for the hall, but didn't go with the carpet that we had. So we ended up having the whole house re-carpeted. Then to add insult to injury, the runner was about 3/4 " too wide. It is now residing upstairs, rolled up, under a wardrobe.

We do not bother about things matching - apparently it is very fashionable to have non-matching stuff. Just as well! Fashion has caught up with us!!

It reminds me of someone I used to know who decided the hall needed redecorating and ended up doing the whole house

Ask yourself, 'Do I need it or do I want it?' If you need it and can afford it then buy it. On the other hand if you simply want it then wait two/three weeks and if you still want it and can afford it then buy it.

"Nother flippin' thing to stress you out.

Soon be Christmas.