I have one family that I have not bought any house upgrades and only buy groceries when they need them and the magazines to advance their career. I am trying this as a test family to get the one of the rooms upgraded to the third level. Interestingly, the less I don't buy the store items to fix the house the less they come up. It's been 3 days (real) and I have yet to have anything come up. Am I ruining it by not buying them? Once I start fixing stuff up will they show up quicker? I'd hate to have a family with lots of money but a banged up house!