Get yourself a cheap dishwasher
livingstingy.blogspot.com
livingstingy.blogspot.com
But as you get older, throwing money at houses gets really old, really fast [...] but the fancy kitchen is just another accessory - like the Lexus in the driveway - designed to denote status. And humans are status-seeking creatures. We all are.
Well, I think until you reach a certain age and realize that just being healthy and financially secure is really all that matters/ What other people think of you quickly loses its importance in your life. And even the "pride of ownership" of nice things fades quickly as those nice things turn into an endless stream of chores or people you have to pay to do those chores for you.
If you have metal ice trays, a stove with crappy drip trays you wrap in aluminum, or cracks in your dishwasher utensil holder that will drop stuff into the heating element, I think moving forward in is OK.
Get a (figuratively) power la-z-boy with all the kind comfort buttons, not something vinyl-clad from the 70's, or status conscious smart ergo privacy unconscious from the bleeding edge.
Other older people I know who have a better income still often pay-to-play at status games (older than me - I'm middle aged).
Some cheaper older people I know argue for alternative status ladders that are not dependent upon money. There's lots of dimensions of snobbery.
Only a few acquantances seem to be able to escape from status displays. I'm a slow learner, maybe in part from avoiding status oriented jobs. I am observing status and dominance games, since I know the skills can help me, but I'm not interested enough to enjoy playing.