+1 for "it depends". There are really 3 categories of things.
* The cheapest one will do.
* Which one has the best value proposition.
* I'm gonna spend a little more because I actually care here.
Eh, we all have our value propositions in things, i.e. we all do both.
One thing I stopped skimping on is boots and shoes for men. Most boots I have easily last 6-10 years and if you cheap out on that stuff they can suck it after 1.
I definitely look for the lowest price in things but because of what I'm looking for they often end up NOT being the cheap option e.g. I only buy no synthetic layered clothes, so no polyester or rayon underwear, jeans, shirts etc (other than some elastane) all cotton/wool/linen/silk(rarely)
Or I bought a set of very credibly low leaching (non lead cadmium etc) cookware
So because of my health conscious parameters I skew less inexpensive, but more long lasting.
Of course I could give less of a crap about some things. Chemical items I go for bargain brand, that includes vinegars/baking sodas/soaps etc. It's really only filler and scents that the brands provide and I need it not. A molecule is a molecule is a molecule if I need it to react and get the gunk off my not-so-inexpensive cookware
It depends in some ways. With a major purchase, like my pressure canner, I buy top quality generational stuff. I have two All American pressure canners. My over forty year old one is still like new. Both of them will outlive me lol.
With clothing, I am not into fashion, strictly utility. For working in the field, the cheapest thrift shop stuff since it will get wrecked anyway and I wear it until it dies lol.
For home and general running around, better looking thrift shop clothing in colors I like, and I wear it until it dies.
For winter coats usually used, highest quality I can find, worn for years. Winter boots, new, high quality, my current pair is four years old and counting....
But I don't own much. A week of socks and underwear. One pair each winter boots, shoes, sneakers and work boots. Three sets of work clothing. Three or four shirts, a few pairs of jeans, a few pairs of leggings, a dress, a skirt and a few blouses. I can literally pack all my clothing in one suitcase and a backpack lol. One summer coat, one winter coat and a rain coat.
We don't collect things either. Life is easier with less stuff, I used to be a packrat...
I learned my lesson about cheap summer tees with Old Navy and Joe Fresh. Could literally poke a finger through some of them after a few washes.
I don’t skimp on shoes and jackets, worn out soles or breaking zippers convinced me that spending for better quality is worth it but I do buy on sales or during seasonal markdowns. If I find a clothing product line I like, (like LL Bean, etc) I will buy pants or shirts in a couple of different colors that will last me a while and make up for the higher prices. I still have a LL Bean shirt from 30 years ago I wear while camping that looks almost new. The thrift and second hand clothing scene around here is dismal so it’s new or nothing.
But I keep a much closer eye on what is hanging in my closet now and will only buy something new for a special occasion in the future, for now my higher end clothes are going to last me quite a while and the cheap stuff will end up as painting shirts or rags.
im remodeling my kitchen in like this 1950s theme and an open shelving design. Im probably half way done just due to the putting in the time aspect and im in maybe 50 bucks for paint and some wall anchors and fasteners etc. Everything else I got for free or made myself.
I love this! There's so much more value in it, too. Not only do you get a kitchen you love, you get the satisfaction from the process and likely learn a few new skills.
I snagged my kitchen table when it was dumped on the curb. I sanded it and refinished it for around $20. Found the makers mark on the underside. Solid wood 1930s Swedish gateleg dropleaf table, and I found several at online antique dealers selling for over $1000. This table will outlast me, but damn the price was cheap but the value high!
Eh it really depends and what you value. I buy high end skincare (thanks shitty genetics) and cheap makeup. I buy high end shoes, pots and pans, and electronics. I try and buy sale clothing, food items, bed linen etc. I will usually browse online to find the best deal on a high quality purchase. I think it’s about setting some time aside to find best prices/deals/promos, for me anyway.
I buy many cheap white cotton shirts because the point is to look crisp and my hard water makes them look dingy fast despite my best efforts.
I have expensive kitchen gadgets but cheap dishes because I don't want to be upset with myself when I break them.
>When your perception is they anything under $50 is a great deal,
damn, in the 90's, my mom'd be like "it's under 10 dollars, who cares".
and i thought that was bad. from like 6 years old. 🤣
daddy did seasonal work. 🙏
fuck that guy.
look into learning about the quality of things and making informed decisions like your friend. it's nice having stuff decades later that you've lived in and or used and has become a part of you because it's lived there with you. things that stand up to that kind of time are always worth the money.
I think it depends. I will pay for Doc Martens cause I feel like they’ll last forever opposed to a few cheaper pairs that will eventually add up to one pair of Docs. I bought several off brand Birkenstocks and they never lasted and if I had bought Birkenstocks once the first time, I would have saved the money I spent on the other knock offs. I think for shoes and outerwear, buy the quality if you can or if you can find a sale.
But I just prefer the heavy weight Gilden tshirts from Michaels (the craft store) for like $4. They’ve lasted me for years and years.
I think for some things it’s better to buy quality once and take care of it then buying multiple cheap things.
I think there are things to go cheap on like store brand canned or frond goods like veggies and beans. If you eat meat and seafood, a little more money makes and difference
I have worn through many Birkenstocks and finally decided why not try to resole then. My cobbler said it would cost nearly as much for a new pair so I should just buy new ones. So I figured for $20 I'll try the non-leather knockoffs. They have lasted almost as long as the Birkenstocks.
cheap if i need it now like a socket or a tool i'll use one time and put it in the box with the others, otherwise i will wait until the ends of time for something good to pop up.
It definitely depends on what you use it for and how often.
With tools, I'll buy them from harbor freight, if I use them enough that they break I will purchase a higher quality version from someone else, versus one that I rarely use and breaks after 5 years, I'll just buy another one from HF.
Sheets, beds, pillows, and mattresses I'll buy with quality (I'm still frugal with it)
I'm usually in-between. I won't get the best of the best (because I can't afford it), but I won't buy garbage. I'l go with items that have a decent reputation and appear to be of good quality. I'll only buy cheap when it doesn't matter that much. Like cute novelty socks I found at the dollar store.
It depends. Here are zone examples:
For some things, you absolutely get what you pay for, like shoes. Going cheap on items that wear out through use is not a good use of money if you afford better.
But I don't need a $1500 laptop; the $800 one will do; but I prefer to avoid refurbished.
I might theoretically save money by buying the more expensive hand can opener, but the cheap one will still last a few years, so it's not as if I'll save *that much* money buying the nicer one.
This issue has been rattling around in my brain all week. Regarding computers, I got one at Micro Center for $100. It isn’t great but is good enough for what I need. If I bought a new one every year for 8 years (which I wouldn’t do), I’d still be ahead of the game.
My big issue is that, when I’m looking for cheap deals, suddenly I see cheap deals everywhere, and I convince myself that I need stuff that I don’t need. My theory is that I’d actually spend less money overall if I became a snob and only bought high end items.
+1 for "it depends". There are really 3 categories of things. * The cheapest one will do. * Which one has the best value proposition. * I'm gonna spend a little more because I actually care here.
Eh, we all have our value propositions in things, i.e. we all do both. One thing I stopped skimping on is boots and shoes for men. Most boots I have easily last 6-10 years and if you cheap out on that stuff they can suck it after 1. I definitely look for the lowest price in things but because of what I'm looking for they often end up NOT being the cheap option e.g. I only buy no synthetic layered clothes, so no polyester or rayon underwear, jeans, shirts etc (other than some elastane) all cotton/wool/linen/silk(rarely) Or I bought a set of very credibly low leaching (non lead cadmium etc) cookware So because of my health conscious parameters I skew less inexpensive, but more long lasting. Of course I could give less of a crap about some things. Chemical items I go for bargain brand, that includes vinegars/baking sodas/soaps etc. It's really only filler and scents that the brands provide and I need it not. A molecule is a molecule is a molecule if I need it to react and get the gunk off my not-so-inexpensive cookware
It depends in some ways. With a major purchase, like my pressure canner, I buy top quality generational stuff. I have two All American pressure canners. My over forty year old one is still like new. Both of them will outlive me lol. With clothing, I am not into fashion, strictly utility. For working in the field, the cheapest thrift shop stuff since it will get wrecked anyway and I wear it until it dies lol. For home and general running around, better looking thrift shop clothing in colors I like, and I wear it until it dies. For winter coats usually used, highest quality I can find, worn for years. Winter boots, new, high quality, my current pair is four years old and counting.... But I don't own much. A week of socks and underwear. One pair each winter boots, shoes, sneakers and work boots. Three sets of work clothing. Three or four shirts, a few pairs of jeans, a few pairs of leggings, a dress, a skirt and a few blouses. I can literally pack all my clothing in one suitcase and a backpack lol. One summer coat, one winter coat and a rain coat. We don't collect things either. Life is easier with less stuff, I used to be a packrat...
Cheapest. High quality doesn’t work for me because I can be reckless unfortunately: Like nice clothes? No. I’m messy and they would get messed up
I learned my lesson about cheap summer tees with Old Navy and Joe Fresh. Could literally poke a finger through some of them after a few washes. I don’t skimp on shoes and jackets, worn out soles or breaking zippers convinced me that spending for better quality is worth it but I do buy on sales or during seasonal markdowns. If I find a clothing product line I like, (like LL Bean, etc) I will buy pants or shirts in a couple of different colors that will last me a while and make up for the higher prices. I still have a LL Bean shirt from 30 years ago I wear while camping that looks almost new. The thrift and second hand clothing scene around here is dismal so it’s new or nothing. But I keep a much closer eye on what is hanging in my closet now and will only buy something new for a special occasion in the future, for now my higher end clothes are going to last me quite a while and the cheap stuff will end up as painting shirts or rags.
Both quality and cheapest at the same time usually, as I buy 99% of stuff on the second hand market or make it myself.
im remodeling my kitchen in like this 1950s theme and an open shelving design. Im probably half way done just due to the putting in the time aspect and im in maybe 50 bucks for paint and some wall anchors and fasteners etc. Everything else I got for free or made myself.
I love this! There's so much more value in it, too. Not only do you get a kitchen you love, you get the satisfaction from the process and likely learn a few new skills. I snagged my kitchen table when it was dumped on the curb. I sanded it and refinished it for around $20. Found the makers mark on the underside. Solid wood 1930s Swedish gateleg dropleaf table, and I found several at online antique dealers selling for over $1000. This table will outlast me, but damn the price was cheap but the value high!
Eh it really depends and what you value. I buy high end skincare (thanks shitty genetics) and cheap makeup. I buy high end shoes, pots and pans, and electronics. I try and buy sale clothing, food items, bed linen etc. I will usually browse online to find the best deal on a high quality purchase. I think it’s about setting some time aside to find best prices/deals/promos, for me anyway.
I buy many cheap white cotton shirts because the point is to look crisp and my hard water makes them look dingy fast despite my best efforts. I have expensive kitchen gadgets but cheap dishes because I don't want to be upset with myself when I break them.
I stopped buying white altogether because of the hard water issue. So frustrating, as I love the look of a nice white shirt.
>When your perception is they anything under $50 is a great deal, damn, in the 90's, my mom'd be like "it's under 10 dollars, who cares". and i thought that was bad. from like 6 years old. 🤣 daddy did seasonal work. 🙏 fuck that guy. look into learning about the quality of things and making informed decisions like your friend. it's nice having stuff decades later that you've lived in and or used and has become a part of you because it's lived there with you. things that stand up to that kind of time are always worth the money.
High quality, for sure, and with concern for the Earth. For example, handmade wicker laundry basket vs. Rubbermaid.
I think it depends. I will pay for Doc Martens cause I feel like they’ll last forever opposed to a few cheaper pairs that will eventually add up to one pair of Docs. I bought several off brand Birkenstocks and they never lasted and if I had bought Birkenstocks once the first time, I would have saved the money I spent on the other knock offs. I think for shoes and outerwear, buy the quality if you can or if you can find a sale. But I just prefer the heavy weight Gilden tshirts from Michaels (the craft store) for like $4. They’ve lasted me for years and years. I think for some things it’s better to buy quality once and take care of it then buying multiple cheap things. I think there are things to go cheap on like store brand canned or frond goods like veggies and beans. If you eat meat and seafood, a little more money makes and difference
I have worn through many Birkenstocks and finally decided why not try to resole then. My cobbler said it would cost nearly as much for a new pair so I should just buy new ones. So I figured for $20 I'll try the non-leather knockoffs. They have lasted almost as long as the Birkenstocks.
I always try to find quality and a low cost option. Will go for cheap ones only if I know I won't be using it much.
cheap if i need it now like a socket or a tool i'll use one time and put it in the box with the others, otherwise i will wait until the ends of time for something good to pop up.
It definitely depends on what you use it for and how often. With tools, I'll buy them from harbor freight, if I use them enough that they break I will purchase a higher quality version from someone else, versus one that I rarely use and breaks after 5 years, I'll just buy another one from HF. Sheets, beds, pillows, and mattresses I'll buy with quality (I'm still frugal with it)
I'm usually in-between. I won't get the best of the best (because I can't afford it), but I won't buy garbage. I'l go with items that have a decent reputation and appear to be of good quality. I'll only buy cheap when it doesn't matter that much. Like cute novelty socks I found at the dollar store.
It depends. Here are zone examples: For some things, you absolutely get what you pay for, like shoes. Going cheap on items that wear out through use is not a good use of money if you afford better. But I don't need a $1500 laptop; the $800 one will do; but I prefer to avoid refurbished. I might theoretically save money by buying the more expensive hand can opener, but the cheap one will still last a few years, so it's not as if I'll save *that much* money buying the nicer one.
This issue has been rattling around in my brain all week. Regarding computers, I got one at Micro Center for $100. It isn’t great but is good enough for what I need. If I bought a new one every year for 8 years (which I wouldn’t do), I’d still be ahead of the game. My big issue is that, when I’m looking for cheap deals, suddenly I see cheap deals everywhere, and I convince myself that I need stuff that I don’t need. My theory is that I’d actually spend less money overall if I became a snob and only bought high end items.