Simplify It: Buy Quality
November 11, 2009 at 9:06 am , by Emily
As I was decluttering my home last week, that there was an overwhelming theme to the things that I was parting with. Many of the toys, clothes, stuff that just wasn’t to be kept around any longer was that it wasn’t quality to begin with. Clothes that didn’t wash well, toys that didn’t hold up, things that broke that couldn’t even be given away.
I don’t think it’s necessary to spend a lot of money to buy quality items, it simply takes a little bit of intention and some forethought. And no, not every purchase has to be of the highest quality. I am not a stuff snob. I just want my things to work when I need them to work, my clothes to fit after I wash them, and for things to hold up for more than a week. A part of living frugally for me has been to buy quality and I always regret it later when I stray from that.
Some ways I acquire quality without always paying the retail price tag:
- find it in excellent used condition on craigslist or ebay
- if it’s something I don’t need forever, see if I can find someone to borrow from
- if it’s something I need forever and have something to offer – trade for it.
- search discount retail stores
- use price matching to your advantage. When we bought our new dishwasher earlier this year, Sears said they’d match any price within 60 miles. A lower-income area about 45 miles from here has a Lowes and they get lower pricing. Sears matched it +10% and I was a happy customer.
Do you acquire things simply based on price, only go for quality no matter the price tag, or find a happy compromise between the two?
Category Frugal Living, Simple Living / Tags: /
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by living with lindsay
On November 11, 2009 at 9:30 am
This is a really good lesson. I try to buy higher quality things we really use and are expensive – furniture, appliances, etc. Sure, my chairs may have come from Goodwill, but they are good, solid construction. Little things that aren’t “used” that often, like decorations, I try to get as cheaply as possible. But, I always try to make sure they don’t look cheap.
.-= living with lindsay´s last blog ..Book Review and Giveaway: Good, Better, Best =-.
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by Ellie
On November 11, 2009 at 9:40 am
I learned this lesson too – I no longer buy clothes at Kohls because they are just one season throw-aways. I have some tees from Lands End that I have worn probably 100 times (or close to it) and they are still in good shape. Now most of my clothes are Lands End bought either on markdown or on ebay.
We too had a great experience getting a deal on a washer at Sears with their price matching. They even did the searching on their computer their. It was awesome!
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by Miranda
On November 11, 2009 at 9:46 am
We like to look for quality items. We use Consumer Reports to help us identify “best buys” which represent good values (good quality for a reasonable price). We shop around as well. When you buy quality, you spend less in the long run, even if you spend a little more up front.
.-= Miranda´s last blog ..BudgetPulse Offers a Fundraising Feature =-.
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by This Thrifted Life
On November 11, 2009 at 10:03 am
I definitely try to find a happy compromise between the two. I want quality without feeling like I went broke for it.
Buying used is the best for me. From furniture to clothes, I usually find what I need at a fraction of the retail cost.
.-= This Thrifted Life´s last blog ..Etsy Wednesday =-.
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by Denise
On November 11, 2009 at 10:18 am
I think we’ve had this discussion. I like buying quality shoes. I have been wearing the same pair of Clarks shoes for over 5 years. Really. I love my Dansko’s shoes too. I did pay over $100 for each pair. I don’t spend that much on kids shoes though. They grow out of them too quickly.
.-= Denise´s last blog ..note to self: be self =-.
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by heidi @WonderWomanWannabe
On November 11, 2009 at 12:04 pm
hhmmm, I probably fall somewhere in-between. It doesn’t help that have have naturally (but not intentional) expensive taste. Just ask my husband – HA!
.-= heidi @WonderWomanWannabe´s last blog ..Finding Wonder Woman ~ She is Worthy of Praise =-.
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by the domestic fringe
On November 12, 2009 at 4:00 pm
There definitely must be a balance between quality and cost. I am generally a bargain basement type of girl, but there are some things that are worth waiting to purchase and spending a little extra money on. I’m also a huge fan of Craigslist and Ebay. Like you, I want my stuff to last and work for me, not against me.
-FringeGirl
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by Lynette
On November 14, 2009 at 2:42 pm
When I buy clothes I like to get my cheapest “price per wear”, which sometimes (most of the time) means spending more up front. Even if a shirt only cost $5, if I only wear it once, that’s not a great price/wear ratio. Quality clothes tend to last a lot longer!
.-= Lynette´s last blog ..More Pictures =-.
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