Why I only buy 95% of what I need to right size

Last Updated on December 10, 2017 8:36 pm by Steven

Childs Birthday Party around the old table that was replaced

A few years ago, Lorell and I were looking at purchasing a new kitchen table.  Our previous one had served us well for almost 20 years and 5 kids; however, it was showing its age and needed to be replaced.  This table had two leafs that when inserted we could seat 10 people comfortably around the table and 12 if we wanted to squish everyone.

Childs Birthday Party around the old table that was replaced

It was the right size for what we needed when we purchased it as Lorell was running a daycare out of our home.

95% rule right size

The 95% rule states that when purchasing something big, you should purchase a size needed for 95% of the time to avoid over purchasing.  The other 5% rent or borrow something.  This is purchasing something the right size.

New Table

When we started to look for a new table (after we had saved up money in our budget for it) we started looking for something that could seat 10 – 12 (or more) people.  We knew that multiple times a year we would have dinner guests over and we enjoyed having everyone are the table while we ate.

We narrowed the table choices down to two options:

• A table for about $2,000 (with chairs) that would seat our entire family, plus four to six other people for when we entertained.
• A table for about $1,000 (with chairs) that was a lot nicer and higher quality – but only would seat our family.

Then we considered the 95% rule.

New Table from Costco

For the majority of the time, we only need to seat our family at the table.  If we eat about 400 meals a year as a family (Breakfast and Lunches during the school year we don’t sit down together).  Then the 95% rule states that we need a table sized for 380 of those meals.  The other 5% – about 20 meals – when we have family or friends over we will plan on making special accommodations.  This might include having the adults eat in the family room (Marshall and Sue experienced that last month), having the kids eat on the back deck (Cami and Andy’s kids experienced that last month) or eating at two tables.

There are many positives to purchasing the right size of something.   Here is a list of positive things we experienced when purchasing the table:

• Quicker to purchase – only needed to save $1,000 cash instead of $2,000 before we purchased the table
• Less table to deal with – we don’t need to store and manage additional leafs
• The leafs are not wearing out at a different rate than the rest of the table.
• A smaller table creates more intimate dinner and family time – we are not shouting across the room.
• Did I mention that I saved money and got a better quality table?

Other Purchases

We try to apply this principle to everything that we purchase that is not a consumable.   Items we have applied this principle to:

• Vehicles – Lorell drives a very small electric Leaf as her main car.  A few years ago we needed to a 12 passenger van – so we rented one for two weeks.
• Home – We purchased a home that fit our families needs.  We could have afforded a much larger home – but having one the right size is important.
• Tools
• Appliances
• Gifts
• Computers

The list could go on.  Everything that we purchase we have to maintain.  Maintenance costs us time, money, effort, and space inside our home (or we pay to store things in a storage shed).  Purchasing the right size of products helps maintain balance in our lives and can help us from going crazy because we have too much stuff!

It is OK to rent things that we need on a temporary basis.  I’ve rented table and chairs for parties.  I’ve rented tools I only needed once.  I’ve rented cars to go on vacation with because I did not trust my vehicles or the vehicles were too small.