I initially titled this post Need vs. Want, but quickly realized I just didn’t have the gumption to tackle that tempting topic this evening. It’s been an exhausting weekend, but I will be diving into that debate soon.
Here’s a little food for thought to get us started…
For two years, many people have felt that I “needed” a new chair.
It has been slowly ripping, seam by seam, and the back is just as bad. Over and over again, I have been encouraged to replace it.
“Really Jen, it’s about time you invested in a new chair.”
But guess what? For years, it has been serving it’s purpose as my cozy reading chair.
I have devoured many books in this chair, savored endless cups of coffee in this chair, shared life with friends in this chair…and it has held up my bootie quite well – regardless of the varying pounds. 😉
I draped a handmade quilt from my sister in love over the offending area, and it has served it’s necessary purpose.
You see the desire to replace it comes from a “felt need,” not a true need.
I don’t need a new chair. This one is just fine, even if I have owned it for decades (which I have). I have looked at new chairs for the last few years, but I just haven’t been able to justify the retail cost of replacing it. It’s so easy to talk ourselves into thinking something is a “need,” isn’t it?
Now, don’t get me wrong. I am no martyr.
Does that mean that I walk away from a fun frugal find when the Lord showers blessings on me with a “want?”
Absolutely not!! I squeal with delight, and can’t believe that I could hit the jackpot with this unbelievable treasure. I used up my yard sale budget with one purchase, but it was SO worth it. It made for a short Saturday of sales.
A company had donated their left over goods from the international furniture market to Foster Families of NC.
They were taking the highest bid, and I happened upon them right as they were closing up.
I got this brand spanking new captains chair in a color that I LOVE for only $40.
They didn’t know the exact price of it retail but they knew it was well over $500.
I just love that sometimes patience in the little things equals blessings in the unexpected.
This new chair was still a want…I didn’t need it, but I sure am thrilled that I had the opportunity to receive it. 🙂
(And as my sweet friend IRL just said in the comments….”what a great little God Wink” during my God Watch time. We are still waiting, and watching with expectation. 🙂
Posted at: Southern Hospitality
It’s lovely!
Love, love, love that chair. And I too, am glad that God blesses us with more than we can ever hope for or imagine! What a great little “God Wink”.
Love that chair & great price!
What an amazing deal, that chair is awesome–more awesome was the price. I wish we had something like that around here!
Great chair! I love finds like that. God is so loving to give us the desires of our heart and nit just the needs of our bodies:)
Great deal and an awesome chair!
Beautiful chair and lovin the price!
Toni
Awesome find!!! My weekend was not so fruitful…and I did not pass out. 🙂
Also I thought that exposed chair cushion was a baked pastry or bread or something when it showed up little in my blog reader….I laughed so hard when I clicked on it and it turned out to be inedible!!!!!!
That is a beautiful chair. Congrats on your find!
Your other chair served you well, great find on the new one, may you spend lots of time reading there!
What an awesome God Wink! You were definitely meant to own that cool chair! Patience is a virtue one I pray for alll the time! Oh guess what, 1/3 of my extended family and my husband and I were in Gulf Shores all last week, we looked up restaurants in the area on restaurant.com, found a REALLY nice one, went to the local library printed off the coupon for 15 cents and had ourselves a $100 gift certificate for $8 it was 80% off the normal price. We had to spend $200 but for the 9 of us that was not a problem, and we had a wonderful meal for 1/2 price! Just thought I would share that with you! HAve a great week Jen!
Okay, great chair, but my question is, isn’t the back to low to lay your head against? That was a problem I had while trying to fnd a perfect chair recently. Anyhoo, so great to know that your purchase also helped others in need. What a great story!
I love your new chair! I can certainly understand not wanting to part with your comfy old chair but WOWZERS that new chair is gorgeous!
Awesome!!!! I love frugal finds like that. 🙂
Yeah!! God has done this many many times over the years for us. He is good!
It’s perfect! Thanks for this post. I am, once again, inspired to wait for what God has in store for me. He has great taste!
It looks like it’s still a great place to devour books! What a cute chair, and I think it was worth every bit of $40!
Cute chair! I definitely think it would be a great place to read, too. 😀
YAY, Jen! I've been blessed so many times too with finding things that I've sorta needed at the time. The Lord smiles on us even when we don't need it at all & I've found that if I wait & not rush into a new purchase, I will find the best deal out there.
Great post! Great find!
Awesome deal! I went to my first ever yard sale this wknd! I kept thinking about all the good deals, you are able to find. I didn’t find much but it was fun! :)For some reason, i was a bit intimidated by them b/c I always felt like I had to buy something but I am learning if I don’t see something I love, then I just politely say thank you and walk away.
I think I may go again, this wknd! Thanks for sharing all that you find!:)
What a find! So happy for you and the sweet blessing of God providing such a lovely gift.
That is fabulous! 🙂
I pray before going out yard sale-ing that God would lead me to the pieces and deals that will fit our families needs. While I thoroughly enjoy going out “treasure hunting” at yard sales, I also stick with a budget and shop for things for our home so we can avoid retail shopping as much as possible.
I think the Lord delights in giving us our wants as well as our needs, and I have seen His leading even in something as simple (and perhaps silly sounding!) as thrift shopping.
Yay for you! Patience is a virtue.
Melanie@Bella~Mella
What a nice treasure you found in that chair! And I think you knew you really did NEEDED it, even though you held out so long! LOL So, where’s the other one going- yard sale, the project room?
Great chair and what a find.
Cynthia
I love it when you find a “want” at just the right price! Dining chairs were on my “want” list for years but I couldn’t justify the cost. My DH found 6 (brand new w/tags!) at Goodwill for $12 each!!! They retailed for well over $120 each! Patience is not only a virtue but it makes financial sense, too!
If ya’ wanna see ’em: http://simplejill.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/bargain-seating/
That’s great. God cares about every part if our lives…even a great chair:)
I’ve been having trouble viewing your blog. Every time I try to view your blog, I get an error message saying it needs to close, operation aborted. The only way I’m able to read is by clicking on the title of the post from my dashboard, not the name of your blog.
Hopefully the problem will fix itself.
Great find on a chair. I know the chair saga since I also had the same problem and I also found a new chair. Patience is worth it. Stop on over and visit some time.
Love that chair! I love how God knows us so intimately that He gives us little happies from time to time. I’ve had several things happen like that over the past few years that I just KNEW God did just for me.
So excited for you and your new chair. Random question for you to pick your brain. We’re headed to Myrtle beach (Wed.) I was wondering if you happen to have any favorite thrift/consignment stores in the area. Would love to find some deals for us and our two little ones. Thanks so much, love your blog!!!
A brand new chair at a great price – good deal