Isn't it funny how we resist the new ones, but once we do it we're so much happier? I've discovered the same goes for:
new kitchen sponges
new toothbrush heads
new towels, both bath and kitchen (my mom has some towels that are at least 45 years old, at least they're relegated to the garage as rags!)

What items can you add to your list? https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

edit/ps: Ever notice how almost immediately after replacing a blade, you actually do go over the ruler or knick it some way that you usually never do? Only on the new blades...[/QUOTE]

Happens like clockworkhttps://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/mad.png

You are so right about a new blade.

Time to change the one on my table. I like the 60mm cutter and found a sale on the blades so stocked up.

A few cuts? There must be a reason a new good blade doesn't last you long. Do you have a good mat on a good surface? Are you putting too much pressure on the blade when you cut, so much it cuts into the mat? A rotary blade will last me for a few months using every day and I change at the first skip. I stock up when I find a good sale on blades or find good blades in bulk online. My last purchase was 100 45mm Olfa blades for $49.99. Warehouse reduction sale from a mill supply store. A mill supply store is a very interesting place.

I always wait to change my rotary blade until I can't hardly cut the fabrics and I have a tendency to never change my needle in my sewing machine until it breaks. Bad habit I know.

I put off changing rotary blades all the time. Then I am prone to buying the least expensive ones I can find and they end up not lasting as long. I would prefer my larger rotary cutter but the blades are so expensive. I have gone through several large quilting mats over the years. I find that when they break in two that I can still put those pieces to use they are great in my traveling quilt kit. They work well for that. I would get more life out of my cutting mats if I did change my blades more often.

I buy a new mat every couple of years. They are consumable and no matter the warranty will not be a good over time. I use to try to make do by twisting and turning the mat to make it last but I got over that when DH tossed out an expensive pair of work gloves because they had wood stain on them making them stiff in spots. He said they didn't feel right anymore so why would he want to wear them just because they were still good.

blades
 

Harbor Freight carries rotary blades that will fit 45 mm cutters . They are actually for their carpet cutting tools but fit the quilting cutters. They are Either $1.98 or $2.49 for a pack of two. Once in a great while I will get a pack that aren't really sharp, but for that price I just throw them away if they dull really soon. It was actually someone on this board that "discovered" them. I thought everyone knew about them by now.

I have tried the Harbor Freight blades and of the different times I have bought them not one blade was sharp enough to use. The last time I bought a package to try, store employee at the register told me these didn't cut carpet that great but do okay with paper.

I typically buy the Olfa blades on sale in bulk packages and bring down my cost to $2-3 each -- always watch the shipping costs! Think next order from Amazon I'll try the Quilter's Cut blades, that's more like $1-2 each, we have a couple of things we'll be ordering in the next week.

Still enjoying my new blade/mat and haven't knicked the new blade yet despite a bunch of cutting, think it is safe from the new blade curse. When I go back to my cutting station I'm going to change the blade on the other cutter in there and I think that will leave just one left in the package so it is indeed time to order again.