Getting (at least) your money’s worth
May 8, 2008
I find that generally, the saying that you get what you pay for is true. I have found too that sometimes you get lucky: something cheap ends up being worth far more to you than what you pay for it, and unfortunately something that you spent a pretty penny on ends up being a big disappointment (this is where I would bring up my camera if I was dwelling on it but I’m not so I won’t).
When my parents were going to Nigeria two years ago, I started buying little trinkets with Canadian symbols such as the maple leaf, the flag or the outline of the country emblazoned on them to be given to family members. Of course, since I didn’t buy these things at once, and since I didn’t put them in one central place, when the time came, I didn’t find everything I wanted to give out. This meant I had to keep some of the things for myself.
One such thing was this nail clipper/bottle opener/keychain:
I got it at the dollar store and with dollar store items it’s really hit and miss: sometimes you can get something durable there that actually does what it’s supposed to do; other times you end up with a set of mini paper punches in various shapes that fall apart the moment you press down on them for the first time. You go and buy more and the same thing happens a couple of times until you realize that the dollar store is not the best place to buy such things. Only then do you stop wasting your money.
This was not the case with my nail clipper. I can’t stand long nails and therefore make good use of a nail clipper on a regular basis. Nail clippers that cut without that satisfying snap, leaving jagged cut behind, or that require you to open and close the clipper over the same bit of nail repeatedly before you finally use your finger to rip off the rest of the half-cut nail get tossed. Luckily this beaut is not in that category.
And the best part? I still haven’t explored its bottle opening or key chain capabilities! My love for this thing can only grow.
On the flip-side, about eight years ago I decided to buy a pair of what I consider to be expensive jeans to see if the fit was really that much better. So, I went to one of the higher end plus size retailers and tried on a pair of stretch denim jeans with a price tag of $97.75 (this may have been the price after taxes were added; all I remember is that is what I paid for them). They fit snug and flared out in the bootcut style and I did like them the first few times that I wore them. Eventually they were no longer my special jeans, to be worn only when I wanted to look hot because the fit stopped feeling and looking that spectacular. I kept them far longer than I would have hung on to clothing that was no longer doing it for me because I had paid so much for them but eventually they ended up in the giveaway heap. My somewhat frugal father may have had a laugh or two at that. I have never been tempted to spend that much on a pair of jeans again, nor have I even tried on a pair of jeans that expensive again. In fact my one of my current favourite pairs of jeans cost me $11. I’m told that there are pricey jeans out there that are worth their cost but my sorta cousin didn’t find that to be true with them Apple Bottom jeans, despite having the body for those styles of jeans, so who knows?
(And fine: until it broke I was perfectly at peace with the money I had spent on my camera, and felt it was worth it for what I got.)
Your turn: what items do you own or have you owned that were worth their (exorbitant) cost? How about things that weren’t worth what you paid? Or things that proved to be far more valuable than what you paid for them?
I think these are fun questions! Hmm…what answers can I share?
Here's one!
Our mattress: We got it for an amazingly low price (for a Queen-sized mattress) and naysayers said the mattress would suck. In fact, it is fantastic and about 7 years later it is still the most comfortable mattress around.
A fancy cheese and fruit plate: We paid $12 for what promised to be a plate of fancy cheeses and fruit. It turned out to a few little pieces of cheese, maybe half a sliced strawberry, and 3 blueberries! It was pretty funny, actually, and I took a picture. I was tempted to send it back, but instead we ate the cheese. :)
A 3-tiered thingee for our cat to play on: We didn't pay that much for this – under $20 – but it turns out we shouldn't have spent any dollars at all! Because not only does she not love this thing, she is afraid of it and refuses to go on it at all!!
My digital camera (sorry, Jummy!): I didn't buy a fancy camera or anything, but I spent about $300 on one about 6 years ago. That was a lot of money for me to spend, but I have used this camera endlessly since and it was one of my best purchases ever. It can't take amazing macro photos or anything, but it works pretty well even after all these years of being used and bumped around.
(I'm still excited that I'm finally able to comment on your blog!)
lol, I ran across a blog yesterday that teased her roommate for buying a $60 makeup brush, I started to comment but for some reason I closed the page and couldn't find that blog again.
MAKEUP: the MACS and SEPHORAS and CLINIQUES are WORTH. EVERY. PENNY.
I did recently discover that in place of mac's primer $24, you can use monistat care gel for the exact same purpose and it costs a mere $7. So I concede there. But nothing else when it comes to make up.
I tend to buy the high end Jeans, because they last longer, I buy most of my clothes from MACY's. My trick is to get my clothes when they have a killer sale, like this mother's day, they have a 70% off sale.
As far as items on the cheap side, I'll say generic canned veges, soups and corned beef. The store brand types are just as good as the big names.
lol at Emma's cat comment.
I stopped buying expensive toys for my cats also.
It's funny since I called myself spoiling my babies when I first got them.
Now they'd rather play with boxes, tissue, shoes, blinds or any moving insect in the house.
And the expensive gifts I bought then is just collecting dust.
My MacBook, totally worth every penny.
Not worth it: any shoes from PayLess or WalMart
That photo is gorgeous! Also, I think those expensive jeans were a good investment for you because you saved yourself money in the long run by learning that you don't need expensive jeans.
The best tomato paste I can buy locally is a home brand one, and very cheap. On the other hand, I spent much money on a pure latex mattress and am still in love with it.
Ive gotten some very good life out of some electronics.
One thing i think was worth it was a drum machine i bought in 1994. It still as solid as ever.
My horse. He was inexpensive, as far as horses go, but now that I own him, I wouldn't trade him for the world. I was actually thinking the other day about how much a person would have to offer me to buy him, and I can't rightly think of a number.
My car was an awesome buy: The price wasn't exceedingly low, but it has served me well and required few repairs.
My current bedroom light: Was very cheap for a lamp that you can plug into an MP3 player; it gives off a limited amount of light, though, and the sound and volume are of low quality.