Joanne Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I don't think the statement is always true. Case in point: Dollar Store bra. My booKs are, um, volumnous. ;) A "good bra" for my size runs more than $35! I saw one ostensibly in my size at the .99 cent store. It was way not ok. Other things I've noticed "you get what you pay for" 1) Sink dish detergent. Cheap/generic ones have never worked as well for me. 2) Child care. 3) Panty hose. 4) Vacuums. What are your items that you would not buy cheap? Quote
Old Dominion Heather Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Toilet paper. rugs. underwear How's that for a weird list? Quote
Sue G in PA Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I'm so glad you posted this b/c my neighbor just told me they have nursing bras at the local Dollar Tree. I was going to get one. Not now! You just saved me a buck. Toys at the dollar store are always cheap and fall apart. My kids LOVE to buy toys there when they have a dollar but mom always warns them against it. It always falls apart after a few hours of play. I also don't by cheapo diapers. Talk about leaks. And some off-brand cereal or other stuff...tastes like cardboard. Quote
E_Edgerton Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Certain foods, shoes, and technology (computers, stereo equipment etc.) My Dh says spark plugs and sunglasses. Hehe:) Quote
Jenny in Atl Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Drinking glasses (cheap ones are paper thin and crack so quickly Most clothes from Old Navy/Target/etc (kids love them, but they almost never make it past one season) Food (LOL) is there such a thing? Cookware (rust or brake or don't work...) Quote
BamaTanya Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Especially for people with high arches like mine. I've never bought a bargain pair of shoes that I didn't regret SOON. And lately: NOTEBOOK PAPER. The cheap stuff feels rough and looks dingy. I must have sensory issues, because I like writing on SMOOTH paper. The other stuff gives me the heebie-jeebies. And while we're on the subject of school supplies, add: scissors, pens, pencils, pencil cases, erasers, crayons, paint, and glue. It does NOT pay to go cheap. Quote
stephanie Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I don't think the statement is always true. Case in point: Dollar Store bra. My booKs are, um, volumnous. ;) A "good bra" for my size runs more than $35! I saw one ostensibly in my size at the .99 cent store. It was way not ok. Other things I've noticed "you get what you pay for" 1) Sink dish detergent. Cheap/generic ones have never worked as well for me. 2) Child care. 3) Panty hose. 4) Vacuums. What are your items that you would not buy cheap? Bread Panties Bras Jelly pencils my highlights! Yikes, bad experience story! These are just a few off the top of my head!! Quote
Sandy in Indy Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Toilet paper Paper towels Shoes (I have to buy good ones or my feet blister in mass quantities.) Quote
percytruffle Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Pretty much everything. And, as if it wasn't bad enough, most stores carry the same junk these days. You have to be so careful what you buy and where. Hence my flyswatter story: This spring we needed a new flyswatter because we needed to eradicate some wasps on our deck. The only ones I could find to buy locally were trash. I bought one at "Lowe's, the Dollar store, and the grocery store. They were all the same hard plastic junk that smashes into a million tiny pieces the first time you swat at a fly and hit the deck railing instead.It made no difference where I bought it or how much I paid. I finally tracked one down online that was actually worth paying money for at Lehman's. It is leather with a metal handle. It is so discouraging how many times I try to buy something of value locally only to find the same junk at every store. Product quality is declining overall, even at respectable stores you used to be able to trust. Rant over. Quote
snickelfritz Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I have very wide feet with a strange arch (gotten worse since having kids.) The only luck I have is when I spring for the store where they measure your feet and map your arch. Summer--it's my Keen sandals and New Balance sneakers. For Winter--New Balance sneakers and Keen clogs. also Macaroni and Cheese. Gotta be Kraft. Quote
PrairieAir Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I have a bra that I bought at Burlington Coat Factory for $5. It looked cute and it was super cheap. It became horribly misshapen with one washing. It's lying on my closet floor because it has been hard for me to get rid of it when I just bought it. What? Do I think I can salvage this piece of crap? No. I just watched that Messiest House clip and I'm going to go throw the danged thing away right now. OTOH, the Danskin sports bras that I bought for about $10 at Walmart are working pretty nicely. They are the first sports bras I've wanted to wear because they a) are padded and I need that little extra and b) they don't squish what little I got. Victoria's Secret bras are sooo worth it, though, and that is what I usually go for. Vacuums? I got tired of buying expensive vacuums and having them die after a few years. I decided I would take my chance with a cheap Walmart vacuum and it has not disappointed me. Of course I only have carpet in two rooms now, so that might have prolonged the life a little. Quote
Prairie~Phlox Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Drinking glasses (cheap ones are paper thin and crack so quickly Most clothes from Old Navy/Target/etc (kids love them, but they almost never make it past one season) Food (LOL) is there such a thing? Cookware (rust or brake or don't work...) The only glasses we will buy are Arcoroc, they ROCK! My in-laws have been buying them since way back when and got us some when we got married. I've had to add to the collection just so we would have more, but I LOVE them. You don't want to know what I pay for bras. I love my Essential Bodywear Bra and that ain't cheap. (I have gotten new ones on e-bay cheaper though) Phlox Quote
Pink Fairy Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Shoes--my shoes last forever since I mostly go barefoot, so I'd rather splurge on the good stuff and make it last. Haircuts--cheap has always been a disaster, so I've just accepted that I'll be paying too much for the rest of my life. Art supplies--I've tried cheap and I've tried expensive, and there's a big enough difference that I get the best I can afford. Not worth the extra cost, in my experience, are expensive vacuum cleaners, toasters, and coffee makers. At our house they all have a 12-18 month life span, regardless of price. Quote
LauraGB Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 cookware bras hair (cuts,color,products) vitamins/supplements some foods (milk, butter, breads/grains), maple syrup, honey, coffee, and probably a few more I can't think of at the moment) Quote
Jami Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 my highlights! Yikes, bad experience story! These are just a few off the top of my head!! Literally! :lol: Quote
kat19 Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I also don't by cheapo diapers. Talk about leaks. :iagree: No cheapos(is this really a word~LOL) here either. Quote
Mommy22alyns Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Trash bags. Did anyone else watch Project Runway last night? That's what made me think of that! :D Quote
JFSinIL Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Pet food. I would rather pay more for Iams than deal with the extra poop that comes from a cheaper food with more filler. Oh, and my shoes - gotta have those $100 or so running shoes with the extra $20 insoles to keep my plantar fasicitis (sp) in check. Quote
Amy loves Bud Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Shoes Bread (since I don't bake my own) I can't think of anything else! That's good, right? ETA: Tortilla chips. El Mirador all the way, baby. Quote
Aunty Social Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Pretty much everything! I'd rather have fewer things of better quality than a bunch of cheap junk that takes up space and breaks the first time I use it. Now if I can just get the grandparents to agree:glare:...... Quote
LizzyBee Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Paint. They don't make kids room paint any more and nothing else we've tried is half as good. Quote
Diana in OR Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Back in the 80s there was a Generic Store in the town where my parents lived. It was like a Dollar Store from a horror movie. They sold mostly grocery store stock and everything had those hideous black and white labels. Beans. Rice. Chicken Noodle Soup. ad nauseum. My mom took me shopping there when I got my first apt. I especially remember the M&M knock-offs being rather repulsive. That being said, ita with the others who have said that it's worth paying for quality for most anything. My priority list... Shoes Clothes Toilet Paper I do shop at discount stores (Ross,TJ Maxx, Burlington) and can sometimes find quality items at great prices. Quote
runningirl71 Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Off the top of my head: *Toys-I would rather have a few good ones around and most likely educational. *small appliances-I love my Kitchen Aid blender and mixer and plan to use them for a long, long, time *cookware-Still have what we got as a wedding present *Having my hair done-I don't do it very often so will spend the extra bucks to go to a nicer place and have it done well. I have naturally curly hair and not everyone knows how to cut it! But, I will have to say, just b/c you pay more, doesn't mean it will be done right, I FINALLY found someone I *click* with in this area after 2 years of searching!:) Quote
elegantlion Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Bras paint (dh is a carpenter, he abhors cheap paint. He uses Sherwin Williams most of the time) children (c-section, my one and only was very expensive) electronics toilet paper Quote
runningirl71 Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 pickles My DH will second this one!!! He is picky with his pickles! LOL!:) Quote
chaik76 Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Shoes and bras. For some of the other things, I love generic. We buy almost all generic food, love Target clothes (they last longer than one season for us, though), and I LOVE toys from the dollar store. I have to explain that one...I love them because they break...less clutter because I get to throw them out! Quote
Amy in Orlando Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Graham crackers - the cheap ones are terrible! Quote
Lisa at Home Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 So many people say they can't afford to eat a healthy diet. Others would say you can't afford not to. Yeah, we pay a ton on our grocery bill (not that it's always necessary...we definitely fall into the extreme catagory ...plus we don't have a garden) but no one in our household has been to the doctor in years and we are much healthier than when we started this process. Yeah, it's a soapbox issue for me!:D ~Lisa Quote
Dawn in Ohio Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Cheerios furniture colored pencils/markers clothes :) Quote
GailV Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Trash bags. Did anyone else watch Project Runway last night? That's what made me think of that! :D Yep! Didn't she know that the generic trash bags are thin? If you want to imitate pleather, people, you need Hefty! Get a clue! Okay, I buy the store brand for our kitchen trash, but I'm not trying to make clothing out of it. We buy quality on toilet paper and sheets. Quote
Melissa in NC Posted July 19, 2008 Posted July 19, 2008 Kitchen knives. When I visit relatives that have cheap knives, it is so difficult to enjoy cooking. Plus dull knives are a safety hazard. Kitchen trash bags. Cat litter and cat food. I switched the Eukanuba and my 16 year old cat revived. Coffee and chocolate. Quote
Dayle in Guatemala Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 1. Laundry soap--cheap stuff here is bad for my washer. 2. I agree on the kitchen knives with one exception--the Pampered Chef $1 paring knife. Love it! 3. Dish soap--I don't like greasy dishes. 4. Garbage bags--it's not worth it when you have to use 2 because the first one broke. Quote
Claire in NM Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 I'm sorry about your experience. Thank you for sharing. Dollar stores are great....but not "BRAs for $1.00" great. Claire in NM Quote
ereks mom Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 We are on a desperately tight budget, but I am wasting my money if I buy something besides Charmin, Clorox, Cremora, Crayola, Downy, and Bounty. If I buy cheap tissue, it takes 2 or 3 times as much. If I buy generic bleach, it yellows my whites. If I buy generic powdered coffee creamer, I wind up pouring out my coffee because I can't stand the taste. If I buy cheap-o crayons, they are too waxy & the wax smears or clumps on the paper. Oh, yeah, I also prefer to buy Bounty paper towels because they really are more absorbent than the store brand. And I usually buy the (expensive but lightly scented) Downy Cashmere & Silk fabric softener because it I can't tolerate strong scents. Or I'll buy the unscented kind and mix it with equal parts of something less expensive like Purex Fresh Scent. Quote
ereks mom Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 I agree about the Cheerios! None of the imitators is nearly as good! Quote
Trivium Academy Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Skin care products shoes (within reason, like having 1 or 2 good dress shoes) laundry detergent dog food Toilet paper vacuum cleaner Quote
Parrothead Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Most anything. I'm getting to the point where I"d rather do without for a while and save to buy the good stuff that doesn't have to be replaced in two years. Right now I'm doing witout a dryer so I can afford a high quality one. Quote
TrixieB Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Back in the 80s there was a Generic Store in the town where my parents lived. It was like a Dollar Store from a horror movie. They sold mostly grocery store stock and everything had those hideous black and white labels. Beans. Rice. Chicken Noodle Soup. ad nauseum. My mom took me shopping there when I got my first apt. I especially remember the M&M knock-offs being rather repulsive. It must have been the store where the mom from "Repo Man" shopped! :eek: Quote
CactusPair Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 beer winter coats boots, sandals, shoes frozen vegetables condoms:D doggie food pasta Quote
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