My blender broke yesterday. This is the third blender I have had in about 4 years. The one that broke last night was actually a replacement blender for the one before that, that broke under warranty. It has been acting up for quite a while, but I thought I would be able to make it last longer than it did.
I don’t know why I am so hard on blenders. I use them quite a bit for making smoothies and things like milkshakes, but I really do not think I use them more than most. But than again maybe I do, because I probably cook more than the average person.
Now I need to figure out what to replace my blender with. My last several blenders have not been the cheapest specials I could find. They were mid priced ones and a brand that should have lasted, but they did not.
So, here is my dilemma. My dream blender is a Vitamix.
If I can buy a good appliance that will last a long time and I know I will use a lot, I do. My sister gave me a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for my wedding gift fifteen years ago and it was one of the best gifts I have ever received. I love my mixer and have used it a lot. They are well worth the money in my opinion.
I also have a Kitchen Aid food processor. I bought it six or seven years ago and I love it. It was expensive, but I have used it a lot and it is still going strong. It was well worth the money.
When I bought a wheat grinder I bought a Nutrimill, expensive, but worth the money.
But I am having trouble spending that much money on a blender. If you are familiar with Vitamix you know they are very expensive. But they are known to last a long time. The warranty alone on them is seven years, yes seven years. That is impressive in itself. I really want one, I just don’t know if I should get one. I feel a little guilty even though I know I will use it.
I do have money left from my prize winning cookies. My husband said I could spend my prize money on what I wanted. He wanted me to use it to buy something I really wanted and wouldn’t normally buy. I bought him a GPS for his birthday, but besides that I have not spent any. There has not been anything that I really wanted or needed to spend it on.
So, I have quite a bit left, plenty to buy a Vitamix. If I use my prize money to buy it I dont’ think I will feel quite so bad spending the money. But I am still not sure what I want to do.
So, I decided to write a post rambling on about my dilemma. 🙂
Does anyone have any advice to offer? Should I use my prize money and buy a really, really nice blender? Do any of you have a Vitamix or know someone that does?
I don’t have a Vitamix, but I’m dying for one. I vote in favor of the Vitamix. 🙂
I have a vitamix and I love it. It is the best. I use mine almost every day and I’ve had it for 5 or 6 years. It shows no sign of slowing down either.
I looked on their website and they have a 30 day no risk thing. So I think you should go ahead and get it. Use it as much as you can in those 30 days and if you really don’t feel it’s for you or not worth the money after that time, send it back. I think you should go for it!
God bless,
Amanda
I don’t have a vitamix but I want to tell you – looking at that site – I’d LOVE to have one.
I don’t know which model you are looking to get but it appears that the “extra deluxe” one with all the containers/options you might be able to eliminate some of your other machines (though I wouldn’t and just have it as a backup).
With everything that you do/make/create I would pick this baby up in a heartbeat. You DESERVE it. We know you would use it and probably come up with even more great recipes. Oh wait then I might have to buy one too so I can make them …… dilemma, dilemma.
Oh go for it and STOP feeling guilty!
Hi, Lynn! When our family returned from Asia 12 years ago my grandparents gave me a Vitamix they had received years earlier. They had never used it and didn’t want to. It had been sitting in an old shed in the back yard for years, down in central Texas. It was already past the warranty. I started using it and loved it. The frozen hot chocolate you just posted would come out SO smooth in that thing. After about 10 years something happened to it. I misused it and a rubber part that holds the blades broke. They won’t turn anymore. I keep planning to order the parts and repair it, which should be possible for less that $100, but haven’t gotten to it. Since I know it would still be going if I had not overloaded it, I think it is a very reliable machine. The only thing that I found on the old model is that the variety of functions didn’t really seem to be as good as a food processor (grating, shredding, for example. Mixing batters, making frozen drinks, grinding small amounts of grain, even making soups, all went very well. I recommend it to you. Perhaps one reason I haven’t repaired it yet is that I also have an old Braun blender/mixer. It still works well also. The frozen drinks are also good with it, but they are not as smooth. In the Vitamix there were very seldom chunks left. I hope you get the Vitamix and am sure you would agree if you did.
Everyone I have ever known that had a Vitamix loved it and swore by it. I dont think you would be disappointed if you had one.
I think you should go for it. I too burn out appliances. I went through several blenders as well just making frequent smoothies, etc and we just bought a BlendTec. Totally love it and totally worth the money. The smoothies are way better and it does a better job of making things ultra smooth than my old blender (which wasn’t a cheap one either). I spent $325 on the BlendTec and got it at http://www.2-life.com. They might have VitaMixes as well and I found they were much cheaper than anywhere else and I received it very quickly. And I am in no way affiliated with them–I just love my blender and want others to save money too. So far I’ve convinced my mom and 3 of her sisters to get one. So go for it!! You won’t regret it.
Lynn, I put off buying a KitchenAid stand mixer for years because I didn’t really “need” it. It was so expensive and I just couldn’t justify it. My hubby bought me one for my birthday one year and I kick myself now that I didn’t buy it earlier!! You have the money, just do it!! It sounds like you use your blenders (and are hard enough on your blenders) that it will be worth it.
You deserve it – you prize winner you!
Jill
definitely get the vita Mix. We bought one earlier this year and while expensive, we do not regret it. Its works great — my son who is getting married wants one as a gift! He loves it too. We bought one at sam’s when the Vita Mix guy came in for a demo so it was a little cheaper than the web site.
I know two people that have vitamix blenders, and they love them! One lady I knew used hers to grind wheat, peanut butter, make smoothies and soups, just about anything, She really used it a lot and liked it.
I don’t have a vitamix, but I do have a blendtec
(www.blendtec.com) and I LOVE it!!! It might be similar to the vitamix, I’m not really sure. But it is definitely one of the best purchases we have ever made 🙂
When you consider the cost and energy it takes to replace a blender every few years, it would be worth the money to buy the Vitamix. Especially when you add in the cost of your frustration when the cheaper blender does not work well and is not as effective as the Vitamix.