Buying Quality On A Dime
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Frugality, as readers of this blog know, isn't just about spending the least amount of money possible. While using your money wisely is a key component to being a frugal person, that doesn't mean that everything you own should be the cheapest version possible. Paying less for more is a useful mantra that can keep your costs down and give you items that will last in the long run. Here are 5 strategies I use to balance quality with cost.
1. Shop when no one else is. I don't mean the physical time you shop (like shopping at 3 am) but shop for items or services when they are not in demand. We saved a significant amount on labor when we had our new furnace installed by choosing to replace it in the "off-season". I also save money on clothing by shopping a season behind, buying winter clothes actually in winter instead of in the fall when they are most popular.
2. Is there a used alternative? Any time I need to make a purchase, large or small, I think about if it is something I can buy used. From Goodwill to the classified section to Criagslist to even eBay, if it is an item I can buy used instead of new, I try to do that. I've even purchased evening wear at Goodwill.
3. Even clearance items go on sale. I used to think the clearance rack was just a dumping place for unpopular items that was subsequently ignored by the staff until new items needed to be dumped. And that may be true, but in making room for new items, those items already there get marked down even more in an effort to make them sell. By keeping an eye on the clearance rack at stores with quality merchandise, I've been able to find items my family needs for a true fraction of the cost. The longer it hangs out in clearance, the less expensive it gets.
4. Research, research, research. How do I know when I should spend a little more? Part of that process is trial and error, but a key component in the internet age is research. If I am making a big purchase (or even a small purchase), I read anything I can find about it. I take the results with a grain of salt - sometimes the bad is overrepresented on the internet - but I can find out key information about the item and determine if it fits in with what I am looking for. Another way I do research is through free samples. I request free samples of items when I see them, and I also have tried many many items for free through survey websites. My spouse even found his favorite deodorant from being a product tester for a survey site I belong to.
5. Pay attention to sales, but stay focused. There are some name-brand grocery items my spouse is not flexible about. I can't just buy what's on sale for him. But I can pay attention to sales and find the item when it is at its least expensive price. Watching sales every week can backfire if you aren't careful, because you can start buying things just because they are on sale. Stay focused on what you are looking for.
Developing these strategies has helped me to keep from overspending but also not just opting for what costs the least by default. If I can make a purchase that will last for decades for a little more than a purchase that will only last a year, that is obviously the more frugal choice. I'm just beginning to really figure out how to make those choices possible.
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3 Responses to “Buying Quality On A Dime”
November 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
7. Buy a well-known band rather than a cheap copy, if it’s something you’re going to rely on, or put in your body.
November 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
8. Pray, and be patience. I can’t tell you how many times I was ready to make a significant purchase when God dropped that very item into my lap for free.
October 5th, 2009 at 2:23 am
I will second that!
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