So, I’ll try to get it second hand for $1.6kish…. But I just can’t see the value in it.
Anyone on OzBargain like em? Thoughts? The pressure to buy is building and I’m not convinced.
My Wife Wants to Buy a $2.7k Thermomix. Thoughts?
The Wololo Wombat on 23/11/2023 - 20:16
Last edited 23/11/2023 - 20:59 by 1 other user
Last edited 23/11/2023 - 20:59 by 1 other user
Comments
This question feels illegal.
who does cooking more?
She does. That doesn't mean I'm ok with (potentially) wasting our money though. If it were up to $500 sure… $2.7k (or $1.6k) is different.
Would you consider your RMs a waste of money? You could buy some $35 boots from kmart instead of potentially wasting your money…
The TM6 is actually $2,579 new however you then need to pay for a cookidoo subscription ($69 annually) to be able to use all the functions to the fullest. Maybe start off with a TM5 second hand which you can pick up for $700-$1000 with an extra bowl and recipe chips.
Wow. Subscription blenders. What a time to be alive!
Wait WHAT? Subscription? Oh boyyyy…
@The Wololo Wombat: You don't really need it, a lot of free recipes online. Or you can pay, export a bunch of recipes to a recipe manager and then get a refund.
Speaking of wasting money. OP spent ~$3000 on a RTX 4090 GPU for his gaming PC.
Just buy your poor wife the kitchen appliance she wants…
I mean, if you're going to trawl through 1000s of comments for a 'got ya', you will eventually find one that aligns with a preconceived ideas.
Of course, real people/situations are way far complex - one usually comes to regret their (narrow) judgements of others.
While that purchase was indeed a luxury (though second hand btw lol), since you've been so persistent, here's some context you have not considered:
*it was made before interest rate rises added 36k to our expenses
*before we had a baby due (in under 6 weeks!)
*while we were on dual incomes (not single income, due to our desire for her to be a full time mother)In these circumstances we both made expensive purchases for (luxurious) items we saw added value to our lives. Now, we are in a different financial situation, so the context has changed.
May I sugest you spend less time judging others/contributing to r/whiteknighting.
Got Instagram appeal though
(We have thermomix and can recommend)
The only people who will ever recommend you Airfryers are those who have an Airfryer, notice the comments here follow the exact same trend but just replace Airfryer with XYZ device.
Enough said.
Air fryers are as little as $100 though. Happy to experiment with that price range.
As someone who only recently got on board with air fryers… I can honestly say I had been missing out. It heats up way faster than an oven and is way more efficient. Oven has gone from being used 4/5 times a week to once every few months. It's way more cost effective using air fryer.
Until like me you get to your third airfryer and realise that they are all really really really annoying to clean, give up and go back to the oven that fits everything on one sheet…
Really? I find them way easier to clean than an oven. I have a bad back though so bending into the oven to clean the back and roof of the oven are a killer.
Although maybe it also depends on the design of the airfryer?
Wife got one, hardly uses it…I use it for egg nog, pancake batter, rice & ricecream. I cant complain because I have 3d printers, BBQ kitchen, rotary hoe, air compressor, arc welder, gym set, e-reader and drone I hardly use…
Does your wife know about your Rotary hoe?
Hehe thanks for sharing!
Use that money to buy a new wife that can cook without the need of a fancy (and likely unnecessary) kitchen gadget
Nice - any Black Friday sales on this?
PSA It is returning the previous purchase that costs the most!
I love the people in here singing its praises and then "so I mostly use it to make soup and cut up veggies".
What an expensive gadget that isn't needed.
Op I'd be asking your wife what the ROI on almost $3k is.
Seems a bit ridiculous and you can get a lot of kitchen equipment for that much that'll actually do more than take up counter space
Op I'd be asking your wife what the ROI on almost $3k is.
LOL be careful opening that can of worms…. It goes both ways.
What can't be reduced to "expensive gadget that isn't needed"?
Any TV over 30"? Any Tools other XU1 brand? Any car with more than 1L engine? A computer with more than i3-2100 and 4GB of RAM? Aircon?
Expanding the scope - anything but store brand food and instant coffee. Pets. Clothes that fit.
Once your basic needs are paid for we all spend money making life and the things we choose/have to do not suck to do.
Your analogies are terrible.
I believe you mean my analogies are like a spoiled milk.
But I just can’t see the value in it.
I really wanted one, but after watching the youtube on what people can cook with it, it was like meh…..
I agree it would be good for making sauces etc and some dishes.
Doing a whole meal is a push if you have a few to feed (or teenagers).
But if the wife wants to give it a spin, why not!
Yea, our friend has one… and everything cooked in it lacks texture… a huge part of cooking well is managing that imo.
If you want to do whole meals just get an air fyer
If you want to do whole meals just get an air fyer
You're missing the point that the thermomix is sold as a cooking device that does entire meals etc hence my comment.
Also if you do an entire meal in an airfryer, it would be a pretty sad meal in my book.
Look you can do some really nice meat, veg and toast in the air fryer… it's the salads that keep coming out bad.
@Minimum chips: hahaha You could be on the cutting edge here, crispy salads might be a new trend for 2024!!!
So you just put in ingredient like rice, water, eggs, spring onion, prawn, frozen bean, salt pepper, soy sauce and voila it makes fried rice?
Which you can do with a $29 IKEA wok. Yep.
Ooh lala look at mr fancy over here
I have one and couldn't live without it.
I buy those premade soup cans and whack em in and it makes it 10/10Occasionally will mix a 2 minute noodle pack in
For your specific example of canned soup + instant noodles, how does it make your life any easier than a basic pot on the stove?
Ah (profanity), forgot the /s
Can you rent one or get the cheaper one
Just hope your partner realises it's just a gimmick or a bread maker.
Still I wouldn't begrudge someone if they obviously budgeted for it
Move aside OP, and let the boss chime in
Happy wife happy life.
That is all. Full stop.Your wife made you post this right.
My wife says to tell you I have my own mind and don't you suggest she tells me what to do.
Thanks to this thread. I learn what is a thermomix. Never knew this sort of thing existed.
Been cooking food the regular way like a chump eh? Meanwhile, Thermomix owners are eating all the soup/sauce/mush their robot can make!
You can buy knockoffs/alternatives that probably do just about everything the Thermomix does, (bar giving you a smug sense of superiority) why not try one of those and see how much use it gets? https://www.canstarblue.com.au/appliances/thermomix-alternat…
You can't compare just the specs
Of course, there is that smug sense of superiority and the ability to tell everyone you own a Thermomix that you miss out on.
If you don't recognise the difference between a budget android and a high end Samsung or iPhone there's nothing that can change you mind. But plenty of people do and are willing to pay a premium for it.
Unless you're about as mature as a teenager it's not because they want to be smug.
But plenty of people do and are willing to pay a premium for it.
People are willing to buy used underwear and plots on the moon. Not really a good argument that something is worthwhile or high quality.
Unless you're about as mature as a teenager it's not because they want to be smug.
Sure, keeping up with the Jones' totally never happens.
I'm starting to think stirlo is OP's wife…
Nah, just trying to justify spending $3k on a fancy soup maker!
@stirlo: Samsung phones suck balls and get bloaty and slow after a couple years. When people who own it recommend you restart your phone weekly to avoid the slowdowns, you know it's bad. I'm over here rocking a pixel that's been faster and better featured than a galaxy for 3 years now and it costed half the price.
You just thought galaxy was the best because you're a brand follower who can't think for himself and thinks "it costs twice as much, must be good". I bet you're the sort of person who owns a pair of beats headphones and thinks they're better quality than klipsch "cos it sounds like some noname brand".
Whereas you definitely don't have that desperate sense of inferiority that sees you need to lash out at other adults' informed free market choices
Watch, here's how a grown up does it:
"I have a Thermomix."
"Oh, that's nice."Notice carefully the lack of (V) (°,,,,°) (V) REEEEEEEEE (V) (°,,,,°) (V)
@GrueHunter: I don't care what people buy, especially if it's well in their means, but don't try and pretend that a large part of the the price isn't for the name when very similar products costs far less.
The smug sense of superiority is 90% of the purpose of a Thermomix.
Otherwise you use a stove and pot.
Got one as a gift a couple years ago as a bday present. Looking for some good recipe. Also do I really need to pay subscription every year do I?
Pointless bling like a kitchen-aid. I'd sooner spend the money on a nicer cast iron pot, better set of knives, and eating out more often.
Sorry, why is a kitchen aid pointless bling? If you want a good stand mixer, you go either KitchenAid or Kenwood. There are cheap Kenwood, but in the mid to higher range both are similar enough in price. The older Kenwood were very durable, newer ones have more plastic parts.
But in regards to a Thermomix, I like taking the time to cook. Helps me to de-stress from the day by doing something completely manually. I can't see the purpose in one, but each to their own.
Thermomix is a like a popcorn maker, or a hotdog maker. Completely unnecessary kitchen clutter for tasks that can be achieved without them.
New wife
If she can't cook without a $2.7k gadget, then either trade-in, or spend $2.7k on a robot vacuum as that's probably too difficult also.
Alternatively you can go and spend $2.7k on a gaming system or mag wheels 🤟
I got confused and now my Optiplex has spinning rims.
If your wife is serious about it and she's the type who doesn't make purchases that she later regrets then given you say she does most of the cooking - what's the harm?
Worst case you can sell it on if you're not using it.
I may have misinterpreted some of your comments but to me they suggest you've determined it's not worth it (for you) and are looking for reasons to go back to her to change her mind.
If she does most of the cooking and you don't want to spend on a Thermomix then perhaps you can counter with an offer to do more of the cooking yourself.
There is no ‘her’ or ‘me’ there is only ‘we’ in our marriage. At least when $2.7k is involved.
I’d recommend all marriages explore this, way of operating, as it works great for us.
We’ve had one for approximately 10 years. It’s a luxury purchase and you can do all the things much cheaper with a bit of elbow grease, but it does what it does very well. You’re not going to buy it and be disappointed about how it works.
If it’s within your means and it makes for a happy home then go for it.
but it does what it does very well
and honestly, what does it do well? As I struggle to find recipes that seem 'easier' in this device in general.
No idea. Apparently stops things burning according to some. Must be for people who cook soups on their Wok burner on the Uncle Roger setting for 2 hours unattended.
Yeah I'm just not that much into soups, baby food or making stock bases, so struggling to find a place for this device.
As per my other comments, I wanted one, but after looking at what you can make etc, I struggled to find a killer 'meal' it would do for me either quicker or much easier than a one pot method. Sure it cuts and dices, weighs etc, which are all a plus and yes it cooks and stirs. Also a plus, but not enough for me.
I laughed at watching them make spagbol in it. So much work vs the 2 pot method or even the one pot wonder.
ok, I see videos about it, I must say it could be a space saver.
Anyway please help list here what things we do not need at home if we have Thermomix:
high-powered blender, a stand mixer, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a sous vide and a steamer
Misso got a Thermocook for $900 which has basically the same functionality (actually better in some aspects).
Dont do it, learn to cook the old fashion way and buy a few nice cook books that suit your pallet.
They are a bit of a weird thing like tupperware.What suits your Chep may not suit your guests' Loscam.
My wife got one but I was able to talk her into getting a second hand one for <$2000. She uses it a lot - makes lots of healthy meals. Still requires a lot of intervention to get there and it is not all just set and forget or anything. Best thing it makes imo is pizza dough for our bases so pizza night has definitely levelled up.
The pancake recipe is also mint.
Obviously lots of money to spare? Even if i didnt have a house loan i personally couldnt justify spendingvthat much money.
Surely if she does most of the cooking, she knows what she needs/wants to make it easier for herself? If you can afford it, get it. If it ends up being a dust gatherer, sell it on while saying I told you so.
I haven't owned one but have used a friend's one. Some of the recipes you could cook in it were stupid, worse and harder than the regular way of cooking. Somethings are definitely easier to do in it. Really depends on what she (and you) cook. It also depends on how long she has wanted it. If she been keen for a year and can explain how it will help with all the cooking she currently does, then maybe you get it. If she talks about all the new things she could cook but doesn't, I would avoid it. That enthusiasm may die down and it will become an expensive paper weight.
My wife wanted one too. She had one of the presenters run a demo for her and some friends. They all ended up buying one. 5 years later and the missus still uses it at least weekly. Bought one for my mum who's in her 80s - she loves it too and uses it regularly.
You're not buying a Thermomix.
You're buying a happy wife.
*temporarily happy
**results may varyIf so, when does it stop?
$2.7k buys a great holiday, or an entire kitchen utensil and arsenal with very good gear and a decent holiday.
If your wife agrees to cook at home 27 times when you would normally eat out and spend $100+ above the cost of groceries then you are ahead.
lol that's not how it works , it's both
I looked at one a few years ago. Isn't it strange that you can't buy this off the shelf and instead you have to have some "rep" come and show you how it works? How much of your purchase it to directly pay the "rep" and those above it? How much is it for the actual product? No thanks. Smells like MLM.
Because it is.
Is it normal for partners to veto each others' spending? This has always seemed a bit strange to me.
My wife and I pool money together to pay for household expenses, save towards family financial goals…etc., but other than that, we're both adults who earn our own money and spend it however we want.
There are plenty of things my wife buys that I wouldn't buy myself, but she sees the value in them and works hard to afford them, and it makes her happy, who am I to dictate what she she does with her own money. Similarly, there are many things I buy that my wife does not see the value in either, and similarly, she respects my autonomy to buy what makes me happy.
TL;DR, if your wife does the cooking, sees the value in it, then just let her make the decision. Does she have an opinion on all of your purchases as well?
I have been thinking the same as well, as we are the same. Finances are not joint and pool money for family expenses and financial goals. Everything else it’s spent at each other’s discretion.
Could this be possibly a joint finance situation?
Yes, it is very normal.
we're both adults who earn our own money and spend it however we want.
What happens if one of you gets sick? Do they go into debt to their spouse?
What happens if you decide to have kids and she looks after them? Does she charge you for childcare and surrogacy?
What happens if she has a high paying job and you have a low paying job? Does she get to afford nice things and you have to make do without?Some people do organise their financials like this with hard demarcation, but it often leads to the union not really being as close, and sometimes leads to financial abuse. For people dating it makes sense, but frankly it's a weird modern separation to have between two people that have legally committed their life to each other in marriage.
Most people with shared financials come to an understanding. It's normal for ad-hoc luxury purchases above a certain amount to be agreed on by both parties. After all, all earned income presents an opportunity cost if you spend that money on frivolities, eg spending $5k on a new gaming PC vs putting it into the mortgage, or investing it.
What happens if one of you gets sick? Do they go into debt to their spouse?
This is a red herring that has nothing to do with the discussion point here around personal spending.
Some people do organise their financials like this with hard demarcation, but it often leads to the union not really being as close, and sometimes leads to financial abuse.
Do you have any evidence for this, or are you just making this up?
FWIW, you've made a caricature of what I've said. I never said anything about "demarcation", just that I don't think adults need to control each other's spending if you're both reasonable, responsible people.
As I said in my original post, my view is that my wife should spend her money on things that she finds valuable, and I'll spend my money on things I find valuable. We're both reasonable people and are financially responsible and consider each other in the decisions we make. We trust each other to make sound financial decisions.
we're both adults who earn our own money and spend it however we want
My post is hardly making a caricature of what you said, it's just elaborating on pitfalls of seeing money as yours or hers.
elaborating on pitfalls of seeing money as yours or hers
You're viewing what I'm saying with a very black and white lens.
I'm saying that partners should have personal spending money that they can use on what makes them happy.
You're taking that to mean that partners ought to be completely selfish and go into medical debt with each other. Obviously that is absurd.
FWIW, if your partner making their own financial decisions is an affront to your manhood, you need to work on your insecurities.
Obviously that is absurd.
Yet it happens.
You're viewing what I'm saying with a very black and white lens.
I'm not paraphrasing, you actually wrote:
we're both adults who earn our own money and spend it however we want
Given that its not uncommon that people do keep their finances separate, and agree to split eg mortgage 50/50, it's perfectly reasonable to take you at your word, rather than assume you're referring to an unmentioned personal allowance budgeted from the family income.
FWIW, if your partner making their own financial decisions is an affront to your manhood, you need to work on your insecurities.
Your jab misses the mark.
@ssfps: OP's Wife hypothetically racks up $60k in CC debt. "It's our debt sweety." Eh?
Fully shared financials create the most marriage issues or breakdowns from my observations.
Do you have ~$3k of stuff around the house that you have bought that your wife can’t see the value in?