While I've enjoyed your post very much, I'm not quite comfortable with you talking like this about washing machines!!! My washing machine works very hard and saves me a lot of time so I don't ask how much water it uses.
Otherwise, I do believe in spending money to get free time. A few years ago I had a cleaning lady and she did a wonderful job, but then I decided I don't really need her and can save the money for other stuff, generally enjoyable stuff.