“I pledge to buy better.” Look for quality, not quantity. Quality lasts.

I frequently joke about being cheap, a tightwad, a cheapass and more. And the truth is, I like to save money. Or, I should say, I hate spending money unnecessarily. If I need to buy something, first I choose the item(s) I want, then I set about getting the best price that I can for it. Not everything requires a ton of research–for things like groceries and household goods, we pretty much know what we like and what we don’t like. So I go for the cheapest items, at that moment in time, choosing from a group of select items or brands.

People wrongly assume that just because we are frugal, that I just always go for the cheapest item. This is not true at all. Often, the cheapest item possible may be of lower quality. I ranted a few weeks ago because a certain clothing retailer (old navy, cough, cough) advertised a big sale, then fell flat on supply. Fact is, I don’t like them anyway. I think that their stuff is horrible quality and rarely makes it through a few launderings. I honestly don’t understand why people like it as much as they do. Sure, they sell flip-flops for a buck, but be prepared to be singing along with Jimmy Buffett……because they won’t last.

When it comes to clothing, outerwear, footwear, cars and our home, we really aim for quality. We have made significant home renovations in the past ten years and have always chosen quality items and quality workmanship. Sure, we could have done things for a lot cheaper and have had the home completely done by now. But $2 window blinds from the local discount outlet just don’t last. We also have a smaller home than what is generally the norm, which means things like floor coverings, our roof and other big ticket items–we were still able to afford quality because of the smaller square footage. We won’t ever have to replace our roof again in our lifetime. In terms of money, hassle, inconvenience–that’s huge! I understand–some folks out there may only be able to afford the $2 window blinds right now or nothing at all, I get that. But for the long haul, your best bet is too seek value, not just price. And there is a huge difference.

So just say no to the hot pink ruffled blouse on clearance right now for $2–if it’s really not your style and you have nothing to wear it with. $2 is a great price for a blouse, but not if you never wear it. If it sits in the back of your closet for two years then heads out to Goodwill, then it’s just $2 down the drain. Better to have one $20 blouse that you wear and enjoy wearing and look good in, with classic styling that goes with many things–than to have ten $2 blouses that you don’t wear.

Remember, focus on what you need first, then set about getting the best price that you can for it.