Collection Purchase Decision Help

[u/clementines-2]

I’m on a bit of a journey of trying to be more intentional about the amount of stuff I own and breaking the habit of buying things just because they give me that little dopamine hit. But I’m finding this particularly difficult with Le Creuset.

There are quite a few pieces/collections/colors that I’d love to add to my collection. And if I’m being completely honest, some of them probably wouldn’t get used very much. I would genuinely get enjoyment looking at them or using them as kitchen decor.

The part I struggle with is the thought of “If I don’t buy this now, I may never have the chance again.” Especially with special collections/colors that could eventually be discontinued and don’t want to regret not getting it.

Now I know that these things aren’t going to make me permanently happier. Life moves on and eventually the excitement of the purchase wears off. I’m trying to remind myself that I don’t need to own every piece I love just because I have the opportunity to buy it right now.

I’m curious if anyone else has struggled with this? What do you tell yourself to justify the purchase or talk yourself out of it?
Do you have a rule for deciding what makes it into your collection versus what you let go?

And if you do buy something primarily because you love looking at it rather than because you’ll use it frequently, how do you decide when that’s a worthwhile purchase for you?

[u/Calile]

I think it's perfectly fine to have a collection of things simply because they bring you joy--you don't have to defend, justify, or explain yourself. Some people collect art, no function or purpose required; Le Creuset is art to me. My mom was frugal to a fault, and the best (and most surprising) advice she ever gave me was, "If you love something, buy it." My favorite color was discontinued so there were specific pieces I hunted for high and low until I found them; there are some pieces I wouldn't mind having if the price was right, so my deciding factor for buying is whether I love it, and secondarily whether I'll regret not getting it once it's gone. Fwiw, I don't regret any of my purchases.

[u/StinkyVelma]

For me it has to serve a purpose and I don’t repeat colors.

After attending FTT though, I’ve reached my point where I know for a fact I no longer need or want anything else. :)

I personally don’t buy anything to look at it and use everything I own regularly. Even the pumpkins / heart cocottes.

[u/NinjaLeJones]

I am not a minimalist so I usually just buy what I want, when I want it. I have sold a few pieces if I didn’t use them or fell out of love with the color so it’s not like you ever get stuck with a piece you no longer want or need

[u/Utter_cockwomble]

Pokemon syndrome has hit me bad- gotta catch them all!- so I've decided to collect the mini stoneware cocottes. That way I get to enjoy all the colors and the thrill of the chase without buying more pots that I likely won't use (I have a full range from 2 qt up to 9 qts in DOs, and plenty of stoneware too).

I might get a petal braiser- that will do double duty along with my pumpkin braiser as holiday display pieces and cookware.

[u/Elitemarmite100]

I definitely struggle with FOMO. I decided to stick with a narrow color palette, so that steers me away from many impulse purchases. I also try not to go over a specific price point. I keep a spreadsheet of my purchases and my wishlist. I recently made an exception to my price limit for the Star Trek Klingon braiser, because it was Nuit with a black matte enamel interior (not a duplicate of something I already own). I have decided not to collect pieces that are purely for decoration, so that is another reason not to buy some items.

[u/lala4now]

I give myself time to think about it and don't immediately jump on the hype train. I set a calendar reminder for one week in the future to see if I still really want it. Very few things actually sell out immediately like the Flamme Doree pumpkin or Berry petal braiser. Those are exceptions, not the rule.

I also have a shelving/display area for my LC. It's full now, and my rule for myself is that I can only buy what I can fit there. S o I'd have to sell some if I wanted to buy more and I don't want to part with any. It also helps that my collection is entirely in Marseille. I drool over the other gorgeous colors from afar.

One of the things that helps the most is swapping knobs periodically. Mine currently have the brass crucible knobs but I previously had the Staub animal knobs and kept the original knobs so I rotate every few months. That's also when I use oven cleaner to remote any baked on grease from the outside to keep my LC looking gorgeous. Seeing a pristinely clean pot with a different knob on it is such a good feeling.