The Case for Spending a Little More Sometimes – Interesting. This is something I struggle with a lot, as demonstrated by all the IKEA in our house. I want to be frugal, but I know that buying cheap can often end up costing more in the long run. I just find it really hard to justify paying $2000+ for a couch! It’s a conundrum. On a related note, I just realised my awesome wool winter coat is now EIGHT years old and still looking great. That’s a case where spending more than I felt I should actually worked out really well…
JulieK
August 15, 2012 — 4:12 pm
We spent $6000 on a Moran sofa 8 years ago (probably less because it was in the January sales, but the list price was just over $6K) and it’s still as comfortable as the day we bought it. It’s fully inner-sprung, the cushions haven’t sagged at all and the fabric hasn’t faded. It fared much better than the Freedom $1500 sofa it replaced that only lasted 3 years and was extremely uncomfortable for the last year.
Spending more on quality items that you like is *always* worth it if you have the money. There’s more than one way to be frugal – not throwing away junk every year because you have to replace it is the best option.
RoseRed
August 15, 2012 — 4:37 pm
I was going to tell you the exact same story as JulieK, but our Moran lounges were a bit cheaper and we haven’t had them for 8 years (yet) and our Freedom lounge was cheaper but lasted a bit longer. But hands down the Moran lounge has totally been worth it. Similarly, our $3000 mattress (bought on sale so cheaper) is so much better than the $500 one I bought at uni, and we’ve had it for 12 years now. I think you make a choice about what you buy for cheap and what you “invest” in.
RoseRed
August 15, 2012 — 4:39 pm
(coincidentally, re your coat story, our lounges and mattress were also from DJ’s)
Ptinutz
August 15, 2012 — 4:53 pm
Yes and no, you still can put a lot of money in something, because you thinks it’s quality and it is dead after one year. I bought some huggy puppy for around 150 and it was on sale and after one year, I had hole on the sole!!! I know I ask them a lot (wear them maybe 2/3 of the year), but they died as quick as a cheap pair of shoes…
And how paradoxal I am, the substitute were even more expensive, but they seems they will survive more than one year…
M-H
August 15, 2012 — 5:51 pm
We usually buy in the mid-price range in a good brand for clothes, appliances and furniture. So far we haven’t been disappointed very often.