Never buy the cheapest anything?

Barneysmom

My DD is moving into her own house this week (sob sob) and I was talking to her about ironing boards, I've put some money in her account for the washing machine and some extra for bits and bobs.
I said don't buy the cheapest ironing board, in fact don't buy the cheapest anything.
It was only after finishing talking to her - on the phone - that I realised what I'd said asn't strictly true.
After all Tesco Value Chocolate biscuits are nice, and the Tesco value pants I bought for hubby to use while he was in hospital were really pretty good quality.

And I buy the Morrisons value sardines for the dogs to have on toast too, and they're always good.

But what other of the cheap stuff is good?
Not just food, but household items too?

esmf73

Hi there. I wouldn't say I buy the cheapest of everything, but I do look for a bargain. Cleaning products wise - most of it is dependent on the elbow grease that is used! I'd buy cheap toilet brushes (only cos I like to replace them when they get dirty - ugh). Anything that my OH and children use a lot of I buy cheaply - because I've noticed that it doesn't matter if I buy the expensive stuff, they still use loads - so like kitchen paper - why buy the stuff that soaks up an elephant in one sheet, if they always tear off 3 / 4 sheets?

So toilet paper and kitchen paper I buy cheap - but in bulk! Soap I also buy in bulk - Costco! But I get Dove as I love the smell. I tend to buy things when they are on offer - so I might buy 3 - 4 of the things, but as they're on offer and I know I'll use them,..... I'm also not very brand loyal. Wilkinsons do some good household stuff and they're reasonable. Would agree on the cheap ironing board though - a more expensive one will last you much longer and be more comfy to use. Sorry your daughter is moving out though - soon she'll be coming back with grandkids to visit!

N9eav

I always buy Fairy washing liquid. If it's on offer it is far better. Other wise buy the best you can afford and check the ratings on consumer sites. I bought a Digital camera after much research and it was and has been brilliant... At the ned of the day be satisfied! ......and enjoy life

ceridwen

For items that are (meant to be) long-lasting - buy the most expensive you can possibly manage. I bear in mind these days "How long would some of the 'landed gentry' expect things to last?" Then think how much one would have to spend to have something last THAT long (ie years and years) and expect to pay, say, half that amount and have it last for donkeys years by most peoples standards.

In the last couple of years I've replaced the fridge/freezer, washing machine and cooker - and at my age hope to never have to replace them again. Errrmm...well the washing machine is Bosch - so I should be okay on that one. The cooker is Zanussi and I've realised that make isnt what it was (now the Swiss don't own it any longer) and the fridge-freezer is mid price range - so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that they never have to be replaced again - but suspect I might have to do so once more and I will be buying better-quality ones if I have to ever.

Its not just the money one has to bear in mind when choosing what quality to buy/price to pay for something (meant to be) long-lasting - its the annoyance at having to buy something again when it should still have lasted for some time yet and the time to go shopping for that same thing all over again (I HATE shopping......there are much better things to do with time than that I think)...

EDIT: ....Bet you're soon enjoying time to "do your own thing"...so good luck with that. The grandkids may or may not happen ever - don't know if your daughter wants children or no and, IF she does want them, at what age she has decided to have them. For right now - at least - it's your time now - ENJOY!

Barneysmom

Thanks :T
I'm stuck for ideas on how to enjoy myself.

You're both absolutely right.

I left Fairy liquid once but soon came back to it, there's nothing else comes close.
I did go through a phase of trying to get all my small electricals to look flash and modern but that's not always the right way as they don't always live a long old life.
So the small stuff like the kettle and toaster I just buy what's on offer but for my iron I buy the best/heaviest I can afford.

Lugh_Chronain

I second ceridwen on Bosch. I bought a Bosch vacuum cleaner about 20yrs ago. I remember telling a couple of my colleagues at the time about it and how much it cost, they said the people who sold it to me (John Lewis) saw me coming. The vacuum cleaner was expensive though I’ve not regretted buying it since, the only problem I’ve had with it was with the hose which needed replacing a few years ago due to it splitting.

I’m not skint though I do like a bargain when I see one, especially if it’s something I really want and/or need.

Other than checking MSE I tend to keep an eye on HotUKDeals where you can also search for whatever it is you’re after. I’d heard of HotUKDeals for some time before but never really thought of checking it for offers; I mostly checked it in the past for offer codes. Mad About Bargains & mySupermarket, which you may have already heard of, are fairly good too though most of the offers mentioned are normally posted on HotUKDeals anyway. And HotUKDeals doesn’t just have groceries posted on there; there are also books, electrical goods, games (including consoles), travel offers and even accommodation offers at times too.

I don’t necessarily think "don't buy the cheapest anything" as that’s not always true, though sometimes branded product are better than non-branded. For example, Fairy probably lasts longer than non-branded/supermarket washing up liquid, though I do tend to buy Aldi’s own which appears fairly OK, not as good as Fairy though but better than other value washing up liquid.

Also, have a look at this thread which might surprise you. Think this might prove my point about not necessarily thinking “don't buy the cheapest anything”.

Sometimes you do have to be careful when buying cheap electrical goods alright, I bought a cheapo mp3 player from Play.com a few years ago and it stopped working not long after buying it.

I also agree with N9eav when it comes to buying digital cameras for example. I recently bought a Lumix TZ65 and haven’t regretted buying it, though it was on offer for £150 and one of the reasons for buying it as it was cheaper than the others. Also, the TZ65 is slightly better than the TZ6 & TZ7 apparently, discovered this after doing a little research.

I think though that when it comes to white goods, etc, you have to sometimes see and feel them for yourself as they may not always be what you would expect quality wise. I don’t think I’ll ever get anything like the fridge I have, I don’t think I’ll ever get anything that compares with it, it’s at least 20yrs old. And don’t tell everyone, it’s not ozone friendly either, I just don’t want to part with it as I love it so much, I’ve got very attached to it. Sad but true!

Buy they way, I have a cheapo ironing board from Argos which has a cheapo cover from Wilkinson’s, both do the job as well as the expensive ones, neither have let me down yet. Though like you have said, if you’re after a decent heavy ironing board then it’s probably better to invest in a good one all the same.

And like ceridwen has said, don't get to bogged down with money saving, I used to but try not to any more as life is to short to worry about these types of things. And yes there are better things to think of and worry about. I realise that now.

Heck, which reminds me, I bought four pairs of shoes from Clarks sale recently and I'm a guy! And to quote Dr. Zachary Smith from Lost in Space "Money, money, money, money!"

Good luck in whatever it is you decide to do!

ubamother

My mother has always worked on the principle of buying the cheapest of the most expensive range. Her reasoning? That the same research etc. that goes into their most expensive model filters down into their least expensive one, so you get the same research, design and technology that created the top of the range without the special extras that no-one ever really uses.

ceridwen

Barneysmom wrote: »

Thanks :T
I'm stuck for ideas on how to enjoy myself.

.

:think: I think thats a very honest response to get from someone:D:T.

"In getting and spending we lay waste our days" is a phrase that so often goes through my mind - to which I tend to add "...and having relationships we don't actually really WANT to have".....and bingo...before you know it....months/years/a life have gone past..

Hmmm....maybe one starter thing might be to have an in-depth look at the neighbourhood/area you live in? I know I've lived in my area for many years now - but still find things I never knew existed about it and it adds "depth" to living in that area (...and extra places to forage in/get a bit of peace and quiet in...:D).

Are there any subjects you've always wanted to know more about - but simply havent had the time before now? Its certainly easier to find out about any given subject when one has "blocks of time" available - rather than trying to fit in a few minutes here and an hour there..

Not to mention that any given area will have a variety of opportunities available for voluntary work - more or less informal....

flutterbyuk25

I moved into my own place a year ago. I spend money on a decent tv and hoover but I got a Tesco Value kettle and toaster (£5 each). The kettle and toaster have been fab, no probs with them at all. I even dropped the kettle on the floor the other day from about 5ft high and it didn't crack and still works fine!

x

Pretani

bought an ironing board out of lidls for £20 and its fab.

carriebradshaw

I did buy a cheap ironong board many years ago because I had to have one and a fiver was all I could spare.I got it from a market stall & although it was a bit on the small side and narrower than I'd have liked it lasted me for over 15 years. I always buy persil or fairy washing up liquid (persil is the best IMO) because with the cheap stuff you end up washing up twice and it's bad enough the
1st time round for me!
I like Mr T value biccies,for me they're nicer than the big brand expensive ones.