I love my induction stove and I hope I never have to live without one. I've had gas, old fashioned electric and ceramic glass top - nothing compares. I also love my convention oven.

I cook from scratch daily using my stove. If you are like me, this is a critical piece of equipment in the kitchen. If I had to cut back somewhere I would look to items in the kitchen that are not heavily used, not used daily or those whose functions are nice to have but won't impact use of the kitchen, or items that can be added later.

To save money you can buy a range or slide in instead of separate built in wall oven and hob. I have a warming drawer on the bottom - frankly I never use it and regret that it's not just a regular drawer where I can store some cooking pans - buy the features that are important to you and omit the ones that aren't.

If you eat a lot of take out, don't cook complicated meals that require a lot of control of cooking temperature etc. Then maybe it's not worth it.

For me, I knew going in that I couldn't afford everything on my wish list so what I did was plan the space to accommodate those future wishes.

Wanted a bigger fridge so we had the cabinets built to take a larger one but we are currently using our old one.

Wanted a built in buffet/China hutch but it isn't a necessity so that wall is currently empty but we have the electrical run.

Wanted a kitchen island but again, not a necessity so we built our own temporary island for less than 100 bucks.

Wanted granite on my wet bar but project creep happened (as it does to EVERYONE right?!?!) so we bought a preformed laminate top for 68 dollars and we are saving for the granite.

Our goal, going into it was to PLAN our dream kitchen, put in the must-haves for a useful kitchen and then every year, we will save up to pay for one of the "extras" that will get us to our dream. Essentially we put in "good bones."

Maybe you can do something like that? I know what a let down it can be to "finish" a remodel and it not be your dream kitchen. For me, walking into my kitchen every day and sitting at my homemade island, I dream of the island that will replace it and that drives me to save for it so I can have it in a few years.

Thanks for the encouraging and sage words. :)

Skypathway1 I love to cook but am not a fancy cook. My husband is and makes tasty meals for us often. Our grown son cooks and bakes frequently as well. You re-sold me on the induction with your words, which are echoed by many here. Unfortunately I can't really pay for one. :) I wish wishing worked. :)

Texas Gem I believe you will get what you planned for. You sound very level headed and practical in your approach.

I did get a few things I wanted. For that I'm very happy :) I had to be practical too. Which is why I appreciate this forum so much. Many including you have waited and bided your time just as I've had to do. Much of what we have now in our kitchen is due to our concerted effort in purchasing everything gently used, including the stove, dishwashers and cupboards and counters. It took years but we finally have a truly useable if smallish, kitchen for the first time ever.

I had never had a good stove or lots of space to prep and cook on. We did get the long expanses of counter and the good used fridge so this was a dream come true for our kitchen but the induction just wasn't meant to be. I liked the idea because when my adult son cooks his illness makes it hard for him to stay standing and tend the stove. He times everything and gets up and down frequently. I wished to take that burden away from him after all these years.

What makes it harder is that I've been saving and planning our kitchen for years. Life and illness take their price, so reality is that there's little chance of more. We're in our late 50s and must think about when we are older, as our son continues to need extra care. Thank goodness we have made this little house accessible already because of our circumstances. so we can grow old in it comfortably and inexpensively. The kitchen is what it is going to be. :( So now I've had to accept it. Begrudgingly. Okay maybe not accept it but live with it until I do. I'm practicing faking it. How am I doing so far?

My big consolation is that I'm able bodied and can still work so we can stay in our home and not be driven out by the illnesses etc. Count my blessings.

10 years GWer mostly lurker and TKOer Yeona