False Economy Fashion

Spain_Shopper

The title says it all, let´s give each other some tips where being pennywise is actually pound foolish. I will start:

-Very cheap shoes are as false economy in the same way that very expensive a waste of money. I find that Primark shoes lose their shape very quickly, make your feet sweat and don´t support them but I do have rather problematic feet so it might not apply to everyone.

- As much as I love the shop, Primark because you end up spending so much more than you would in a shop like Marks and Spencer or Next, well I do anyway "Oh look that´s only a pound, I ´ll have that and that" whereas if I go into a slightly more expensive shop I will buy one or two good things and that is it.

- Sales shopping is very dangerous for me as I end up buying things that I probably wouldn´t have bought if they were full price. If you are one of those disciplined people who see something, love it but wait for the sale then it doesn´t apply to you:p

FelinePrincess

I totally agree on all them points, especially the cheap shoes. I find new look shoes particularly bad, I have only ever brought about 2 or 3 pairs but they are so uncomfortable they only get worn once or twice making them about £10 per wear, where as nicer, better quality shoes will get lots of wears and work out cheaper.

- A pet hate of mine is fake leather goods, I think these are a false economy as they wear really badly and look cheap, where as a decent quality leather item will last forever and often look better with wear.

MrsE_2

I can't wear cheap shoes, I can only wear leather, I would be in agony.

I prefer to buy one good iten than three cheap things though.

If I buy the cheap thing I always look at it later & think, why did I buy that rubbish & chuck it away.
But the good stuff lasts & works out cheaper in the long run for me.

Piggles12345

This is more beauty than fashion, but I hate cheap shampoo and conditioner! I don't mind buying a decent shampoo from the £1 shop, that's just a bargain!! But I hate horrible supermarket's own brand. I find that they always dry my hair out and make me look like a scarecrow so I end up having to spend loads of money on conditioning treatments either at my hairdressers or from the chemists.

I also hate cheap deodrants. I bought about a gallon of deodrant for a £1 from the £1 shop a few weeks ago and had it turned to water as soon as it hit my arm pit and then dry, white flakes once it had been on for about 5 mins. Again, I end up just buying a decent brand anyway so I could have saved myself an extra pound (maybe to put towards the conditioning treatment). Having said this, I do have quite sensitive and just plain weird armpits!

I also can't stand cheap perfume. My colleagues all think I am made of money because I wear expensive perfume everyday, but I only need a couple of dabs in key areas (arm pits, between and under my boobs and on my forearms) and it lasts me all day. One of my colleagues buys £10 perfume every month or so because it wears off during the day, so ends up spending about £120 per year, whereas my £40 bottle of Poison by Dior has lasted me since Xmas 2007!

Cheap bubble bath is also something that is a false economy for me. You end up putting so much in that you have to replace it every couple of weeks. I like a small drop of Boot's Sanctuary in mine and it lasts me months and months.

Gosh, sorry I didn't mean to go off on such a rant!

ALR

MrsE wrote: »

I can't wear cheap shoes, I can only wear leather, I would be in agony.

I agree, I've got several pairs of simple Ballerina style pumps which are awful if they aren't made of leather.
They cut your feet up and they dont mould to the shape of your feet like leather ones do, (a particular annoyance to me because I have such wide feet, there's no give in non-leather materials)
I must admit, some of the leather pumps I've bought from New look in particular are brilliant. Very comfortable, very stylish and will last a long time to come!

ALR

Piggles12345 wrote: »

This is more beauty than fashion, but I hate cheap shampoo and conditioner! I don't mind buying a decent shampoo from the £1 shop, that's just a bargain!! But I hate horrible supermarket's own brand. I find that they always dry my hair out and make me look like a scarecrow so I end up having to spend loads of money on conditioning treatments either at my hairdressers or from the chemists.

I also hate cheap deodrants. I bought about a gallon of deodrant for a £1 from the £1 shop a few weeks ago and had it turned to water as soon as it hit my arm pit and then dry, white flakes once it had been on for about 5 mins. Again, I end up just buying a decent brand anyway so I could have saved myself an extra pound (maybe to put towards the conditioning treatment). Having said this, I do have quite sensitive and just plain weird armpits!

I also can't stand cheap perfume. My colleagues all think I am made of money because I wear expensive perfume everyday, but I only need a couple of dabs in key areas (arm pits, between and under my boobs and on my forearms) and it lasts me all day. One of my colleagues buys £10 perfume every month or so because it wears off during the day, so ends up spending about £120 per year, whereas my £40 bottle of Poison by Dior has lasted me since Xmas 2007!

Cheap bubble bath is also something that is a false economy for me. You end up putting so much in that you have to replace it every couple of weeks. I like a small drop of Boot's Sanctuary in mine and it lasts me months and months.

Gosh, sorry I didn't mean to go off on such a rant!

I'd second all of those points! I love my YSL Cinema, and has lasted me 2 years already as I only need 1 'squirt' a day!

lindsaygalaxy

I find when buying for clothes for my children, depending on what it is, and at what stage of clothes they need then some things are a false economy. For example, for my 4 year old DD, we spent about £70 on clothes from Primark, 3 months later they have shrunk/worn/stains wont come out etc but were good for the time and are fine for messing around in. But a dress we got her from Mothercare 9 months ago still looks as good as new.

Children get through a lot of clothes but sometimes it pays to buy better quality once they reach the stage of not growing out of everything every few months. ( I queue for the next sale, get offers from Adams online etc to save some money).

GrammarGirl

Oooh lovely, good thread Spain Shopper!

Well, I'm a bit of an advocate of cheap shopping. I get bored very easily and like to update my look every month or so, so will shop in the cheaper places for a very fashionable piece to go with my more classic items. I think I must have quite sturdy feet, because cheap shoes (with plasters) never really bother me! I have lots of cheap ballet pumps in different colours for different outfits, although I must admit you do only get a few months' wear from them before they're battered and smelly and must be thrown!

Here are my thoughts:

Jeans. Cheap jeans go baggy at the bum, fade in the wash and they never have that proper denim look/feel about them. I buy jeans from Gap, Levi's and occassionally Topshop (often via eBay) and find they last and last, whereas Primark jeans are done after a few months. I wear jeans almost every day so can justify the expense!

Underwear. Nothing beats a good-fitting bra. I like cheapo pants (the packs of 8 for £2.50 from Primark are good) but think a decent bra is essential for posture, shape and health.

Shirts - I very rarely wear shirts (although today I have on a big baggy men's one from Thomas Pink) but if I needed a new one I'd buy a classic shape from Gap or similar, rather than a cheapie. The fit of a shirt is very important and cheap versions just don't do the business.

Winter coats - Cheap ones never last longer than one winter. I love 100% wool, long length designs with pretty buttons. I also think classic is better than fashion-led - you want one that'll see you through many a cold month and still look good. You can always update with a belt or scarf. I need a new one for this winter and am excited to start looking! A good buy for the sales too.

I completely agree about shampoos. conditioners and perfumes too.

ALR

GrammarGirl wrote: »

Oooh lovely, good thread Spain Shopper!
Jeans. Cheap jeans go baggy at the bum, fade in the wash and they never have that proper denim look/feel about them. I buy jeans from Gap, Levi's and occassionally Topshop (often via eBay) and find they last and last, whereas Primark jeans are done after a few months. I wear jeans almost every day so can justify the expense!


Winter coats - Cheap ones never last longer than one winter. I love 100% wool, long length designs with pretty buttons. I also think classic is better than fashion-led - you want one that'll see you through many a cold month and still look good. You can always update with a belt or scarf. I need a new one for this winter and am excited to start looking! A good buy for the sales too.

I can vary on Jeans. I like lots of Jeans from Next as they last and last. (I tend to wear Slouch, wide leg or Boyfit anyway so them going baggier isn't so much of an issue) I get some from Next which keep their shape nicely and last for several seasons. But then also I have bought some cheaper ones, (In the past from TU @ Sainsburys and from Topshop or Dorothy Perkins) But this time from New Look, they shed colour like crazy until about 4 or 5 washes down so I kept ending up with Blue tinted legs. But as for shape, they do lose them but tumble drying them in between usually brings their shape back ok.

As for Winter coats... I'm still wearing a lovely black wool one that I bought from Gap about 3 years ago. I've dry cleaned it each spring to keep it fresh and it still looks almost new. And is still quite fashionable (its a loose fitting, oversized 'cape' style). My friend got me £30 off it as a member of staff at the time but even at full price I'd have still got my moneys worth from it!

tara747

Great thread!!!

I never ever pay full price for anything, I only shop in the sales. I am that disciplined person Spain Shopper referred to in post #1! I do buy quite a lot of clothes though (but never spend more than £50-60 per month).

I shop less and less in Primark these days, the quality of most things is poor, but I have had the odd gem from it. Their '£4 for 3 pairs' lycra pants are awesome, they last and last! Whereas the cheapo £2 for 5 pairs' ones don't. It's all a matter of picking and choosing carefully. So my advice is: buy quality but wait for the sales!!

Re: cheap makeup, I will spend more on foundation (usually via eBay ) as it is usually worth it. But for lippy, blusher, eyeshadow and (yes) even mascara, I will go for the cheap versions every time. I buy 2True mascara in Superdrug. I discovered them when I was a skint student, they're 3 for £5 and amazing! They make my lashes look lovely and never ever smudge!!! There, that's my beauty bargain secret out! Oh by the way, Boots have Lasting Perfection foundation for £1 at the moment, I got 3 at lunchtime!!! Should I post that on the Grabbit board?

Cheap skincare? Hmmm, I genuinely haven't a clue. I buy everything from Boots cucumber stuff to mid-range and have not noticed much difference between brands. Obviously I would love to splash out on Clinique etc all the time but I'm too tight and saving for a house deposit... and if it's a choice between expensive potions and holidays, I'll choose hols every time!

tara747

Re: children's clothes. Every parent I know thanks the Lord for the advent of Primark! They all say that children grow out of clothes so quickly they can't bear to spend £££s on them. It literally kills them when they have to give away something from Baby Gap which cost £50 just because the baba has outgrown it, and they rue the 'waste of money'. I think I would be the same myself if I had children.

Maybe their children grow more quickly than lindsaygalaxy's though! :rotfl: