Flipped on local broadcast TV last night to get the weekend weather and saw 2 back-to-back Labor Day sales commercials. The first was advertising $1500 off select kitchen appliances at Home Depot and the 2nd was $800 off mattresses. I thought, "I don't remember paying that much for my stuff", so I dug out the "household receipt" file.

Kitchen appliance receipt - fridge, dishwasher, and stove...total $1,479 including delivery and install.

Furniture store receipt - mattress, box spring, and frame (queen) including delivery and set-up...$489.00.

Guess I'm in for a shock if I have to replace anything.

When we completed the rebuild on our home and it came time to buy furniture and bedding I was blown away .The cost of a decent set of King size sheets is crazy .

And how long ago did you pay those prices?

Costs have risen steadily, with an especially dramatic jump during the pandemic.


I paid $825 for a King mattress alone in 2016. Same mattress today would be almost $2000.

I paid $1427 for a lower-mid-tier Whirlpool fridge in 2020. A new one of that model today would be $2200.

I bought a high end Flexsteel sofa and loveseat in 2020 that were $2300 apiece. Today, those same pieces would be $3200 and $3400.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
And how long ago did you pay those prices?

2004 when I bought the current house. Like I said, out of touch.

Oh yeah. 20+ years of inflation - and 4+ especially high years - will mean quite the shock.

Even with just a very rough inflation estimation based on the CPI numbers (which aren't all that accurate, especially lately), that appliance set that was $1479 in 2004 dollars would have cost around $2,512 in 2024 dollars, and that queen mattress set that was $489 in 2004 dollars would be $831 in 2024 dollars.

So nearly double, even just based on that flawed metric.

Actual purchase cost for comparables today would likely be even higher.

I still have my original Kenmore Kitchen (mostly Whirlpool OEM) appliances from 2001. Except the hood microwave that I replaced after about a decade and am replacing again.

I've repaired the fridge a couple times - new icemaker and controller boards, new thermostat (twice). Easy fixes with parts from our very own Appliance Brad. I replaced the door seals on the dishwasher when they started leaking.

Range has not had any problems, except when I did a self clean cycle without removing the racks and they got all dull and stopped sliding well. Those were easy to replace.

They won't last forever but I'll keep them running as long as I can. I won't touch anything LG or Samsung or with silly unnecessary electronic features.

My Maytag Neptune washer went bad after 17 years - bearings went out, the drum sagged, and drive belt wouldn't stay on. Replaced in 2018 with Whirlpool front loaders and no problems in 6 years. Price wasn't that much worse than the Neptunes - about $1500 for the set give or take but I'd have to check.

The new Microwave is $350 at BB, and I had enough reward credits to get it for under $250 with tax.

I probably should get new mattresses. Mine are 20 year old Ethan Allen which were not cheap. Now I'd go with Indiana-made Bolls mattresses probably. I helped a gf buy a mattress set a few years ago and it was insane the way they are sold. Everyone has a "best price double your money back" guaranty, but no two stores carry EXACTLY the same model so there is no way to compare.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Oh yeah. 20+ years of inflation - and 4+ especially high years - will mean quite the shock.

Even with just a very rough inflation estimation based on the CPI numbers (which aren't all that accurate, especially lately), that appliance set that was $1479 in 2004 dollars would have cost around $2,512 in 2024 dollars, and that queen mattress set that was $489 in 2004 dollars would be $831 in 2024 dollars.

So nearly double, even just based on that flawed metric.

Actual purchase cost for comparables today would likely be even higher.

Up to COVID, globalization and outsourcing mostly keep major item prices level. That's why inflation was only 1-2% for almost two decades. The last 4 years has seen a huge jump due to broken supply chains, shortages, etc.

As with cars, a substantial part of the increase is that we're buying appliances with features not available in previous years. That doesn't mean they're more reliable, however.
We just got a new Samsung front-loader from Costco to replace an old broken one; price was $750 with tax and delivery; I thought that was a pretty good price.
Also, for both furniture and appliances, people are often setting their sights higher: buying a built-in refrigerator/freezer, for example. Basic appliances are still pretty cheap.
Then there's TV's which have become vastly cheaper, but you can still pay extra for a huge OLED screen, for example.

I’m happy I’ve kept myself broke knocking this and that out over the last 10 years. The price on many things today, especially vehicles, is insane. I’m dreading the day I have to replace my clothes washer/dryer, and the HVAC system. I’m planning a permanent move and I’m definitely trying to take care of the furniture, etc, I have now, as I do not want to buy any of it again.

I went to buy a replacement tempurpedic mattress for my spare bedroom - they were asking $6000 at Ashley. I said no.

My new bed, consisting of a queen Restonic mattress and an American made, real wood lighted bookcase headboard was $2150

If you want some real fun, price outdoor furniture. Not the stuff on the floor in corner of Lowe's, nice wood/upholstered outdoor furniture. Apparently it's looked at as in the same luxury class as boats and Rolex; nobody really needs it and those who want it will pay whatever we ask!