Wanted: A New Iron

We are not to judge thrift solely by the test of saving or spending. If one spends what he should prudently save, that certainly is to be deplored. But if one saves what he should prudently spend, that is not necessarily to be commended. A wise balance between the two is the desired end. –Owen Young

Late Saturday night {so late in fact that it was actually very early Sunday morning} my iron quit working in the middle of a project. My new iron. The iron I bought on August 17, 2010. The iron that had a lovely green inset that matched my adorable double-sided ironing board cover. The iron I'd spent an inordinate amount of time picking out while the Little Bugs milled around me teasing each other waiting ever-so-patiently to go pick out new shirts for school. The iron that wasn't really in the budget. The iron that was a step down from my old, broken iron because I was economizing. The iron I picked out, in large part, because it was marked down to $17.97. The iron that rang up at regular price {$19.97}, but I didn't notice until I was looking over my receipt at home. The iron for which I never went back to get a refund for the difference in price {I so want my two dollars!}. The iron whose box, warranty card and receipt I unceremoniously threw out while cleaning the mess from under my sewing table. The iron that is now trash.

This iron was a compromise between what I really wanted and what I could afford; it was what I could live with. And now I'm back to square one and just a little bit peeved with Black & Decker. If a new iron wasn't in the budget two months ago, it is even less in the budget now {backstory: Mr. Bug's job was eliminated at the beginning of April. Since then he's started his own company, but it is slow going and the budget is really tight which is why I'm completely obsessing over my iron breaking. Again.}. I'm back to using a travel iron that after four days with it when my last iron broke I was ready to commit harry carry because it scorches everything, including the light side of my adorable reversible ironing board cover. I'm going to have to look into cooking with two-minute noodles so I can afford a new new iron. I hear you can really cut back on your food bill and they're not too bad if you prepare them correctly.

I have to wonder if my creative appliances are conspiring against me? First Grace and now two irons. Admittedly, the first iron had served a long and useful life. But this second iron? I think it was out to get me the minute it didn't ring up on sale. And I'm almost scared to get another iron because what if I choose the wrong one again and I'm back in the same boat in two months? Who knew that choosing an iron would have the weight of choosing the True Grail from among the many False Grails.


You saw what happened to the guy who chose poorly . I feel a little bit like that right now. So before I commit to cash {again}, I'm going to do a little research. I want to make an informed decision so that I can choose wisely. What iron do you have, how long have you had it, where did you get it, how much was it and and why do you love it?

Oh, and this time, I'm going to mail in the warranty card and save the box and receipt. Those crafty appliances are not going to get the best of me .