If you are anything like me, you probably spend a lot of your time trying to save money. You buy used items, you buy the cheaper version of most everything (including food), or you just use something well past when it should have been tossed. But is that always the best choice? Is it always the most frugal choice?
I’ve purchased jeans at Walmart for $18. I’ve also purchased a better brand at Kohl’s, on sale for $25, usually $40. The $18 jeans lasted me about a year, year and a half. The $40 jeans lasted me 4 years. Essentially, the $18 jeans cost me $18/year whereas the $40 jeans cost me $10/year. Which is the more frugal option?
Sometimes you have to spend more money up front to save money in the long run. This goes for buying used as well. If I’m going to buy something used, I’d rather spend a little more money on a better brand or quality item. We are running into this with car buying right now. My husband knows what he wants in a new to him car. He can find older models of the type of car or he can find a different engine size for cheaper than what he is looking for…and easier to find. But the other size engine has a known issue that is expensive to fix and, as it is a bigger engine, doesn’t get anywhere near the good gas mileage as the engine size he wants. It is going to be more frugal to spend a little more on the newer, smaller engine car.
What about food? Sometimes the more expensive food item is just more frugal because we like it better than the cheaper version. I know for us, we don’t like store brand Cheerios. If I buy them, we end up throwing them out, wasting that money. Sometimes we don’t see the effects of higher quality food immediately. Sometimes those affects come later in life with our health. Studies are just starting to be done on the long-term affects of junky foods since they are still fairly new to the market. But most people will agree that junky food high in fats, sugars, preservatives, etc. are not very good for you. Spending more money on better for you food will help keep you healthier…which in turn, keeps you from having to spend as much on medical bills.
It does seem to be backwards that spending more money is more frugal but sometimes, that is exactly the case.
When have you found it to be better to spend more money up front?
Giftie Etcetera says
I spend money on good ink pens. It sounds silly, but they last longer and I don’t have to replace them as often.
Kristy
aka Giftie Etcetera
Julie says
HEy, I have a bit of a pen obsession so I understand. My husband has learned to not let me go into Staples alone…;)
Becca @ The Earthlings Handbook says
Good quality socks! Also, I frequently save by buying a large amount at a small price per item, rather than buying the smaller package more often. A case of toilet paper seems expensive, but then we don’t have to buy TP for a year, so it’s convenient as well as saving 20% of the cost!
Julie says
I have an obsession with SmartWool socks. It is so cold here in the winter, that they are necessary. So I totally understand the sock thing. 🙂
You’re right. I buy my sugar like that. I like raw sugar, which is cheaper in a large quantity.
Gail Akeman says
I buy bananas for my son to eat. Weird I know. Instead of buyng all kinds of bad foods he will eat these up in no time.
Julie says
Bananas are strangely expensive. Abby only eats them on the green side of yellow so I feel like I spend a small fortune in bananas. 🙂
Sarah @ SarahTitus.com says
Love the theology in this post! Hope to see it on the Frugal Friday Link Up Party this Friday!
Question, if the Kohl’s jeans costed you $25, then wouldn’t it be $6.25/year instead of $10/year since they were on sale?
Sarah @ SarahTitus.com recently posted…5 Real Ways to Add $500/month Steady Income
Julie says
On sale, yes. But if I have to pay the full price of $40 not $25, it’s still better than the $18.
Linda says
I feel that way about my clothes. I usually wear my clothes for a long time. I expect them to last for a few years. Luckily I don’t go in for fads. I tend to shop at nicer clothing stores although I am always looking out for sales. I have found that clothes from discount store just don’t up to everyday wear and tear as well. This saves me money in the long run.
Julie says
That’s the way to do it! I don’t to do many fads either (aside from a pair of skinny jeans to wear with boots). It does help so you can buy higher end clothes that last longer. Even if I’m at Goodwill, I don’t pay Hanes shirts or Faded Glory pants. They aren’t going to last and if I’m going to do that, I might as well just buy them new.