False economy (merged threads)

thriftwizard

This will probably raise a bit of controversy, but cheap new sewing machines are generally not good bargains. The build quality isn't good, and they're built to fall apart in 5 years & not be repairable, so that you become "repeat custom". Quality control often isn't brilliant, either; I've recently taught a couple of ladies who were convinced they were idiots & they'd never be able to sew, and all that was wrong was that their brand-new machines (bought from a well-known out-of-town-type homewares chain) weren't "right" & never would be. Buy a decent, serviced secondhand machine, preferably pre-1985, to learn on, then save up & buy something really worthwhile; also try out lots of different makes & models before you settle on one. Each machine has different strengths & weaknesses & every stitcher has different needs.

That said, I do most of my stitching - and I sell many of the things I make - on a 1909 machine that cost me £2.50! But I have also saved for & invested in a £600 Bernina for the times I need zigzag & stretch-stitch capability, and a secondhand industrial overlocker.

Alison_Funnell

MandM90 wrote: »

IKEA; some things are OK but I find many pieces don't last - both for me and for friends - or end up wonky. Some things just look plain cheap and horrible. I would much rather a repainted/glossed solid pine piece from eBay or freecycle now.

The only new furniture we have bought are 2 of the 3 three chairs in the sitting room (yes Ikea the bouncy ones) everything else is second hand/ebay/hand me downs/inherited. So they are all solid wood. Our DD hates them all because they aren't up to the minute stuff. They will last for many decades more than they many they already have.

I don't have second hand mattresses, and although our sofa is ebayed (£19 bargain - pure luck more than judgement) I possible wouldn't again, not because this one was unpleasant when we got it but the bedbug tales now over here I don't think I'd take the risk.

May sound daft but hairbands and clips. I've found the cheap ones often break after only a few uses, some on first use. Infuriating.

lilac_lady

My daughter is "arty" and has furnished her house with second hand 70s furniture (apart from beds and sofas). She has an eye for finding pieces that are just right. No debt there either. Her last purchase was a dressing table for £25 which she revamped.

It looks fabulous and is all wooden stuff rather than the cheap plasticky furniture that doesn't last.

Beccatje

i think it really all depends on several things. How you feel about environment, quality, additives, etc...
It may make sense to invest in expensive good quality furniture that will last you a life time.. but me, personally, I like a change now and then. And if I can buy 3 cheaper sofa's that will together span 20 years for the added up price of one better quality more expensive sofa that will last 20 years.. I would go for the 3!.. because I'd get bored with the same old sofa!
the same with clothes. my body doesn't stay the same,
my weight changes up and down (mostly up) and I really don't want to wear the same stuff years on end. So I settle for less expensive for most of my clothes. And if they don't last as long.. well that's ok. they didn't cost very much.
As for jeans.. they wear out at the same rate wether they are expensive or not.. always on the inside of my thighs.. makes no difference what price or quality jeans I buy. so for me, buying high quality clothes that last years is a false economy because I'd get bored with them, or not fit them anymore and toss them out one way or another anyway..



I love gardening, and I love to grow my own veg. We have a small garden and I plant it pretty full up each year. I never buy plants btw.. it's always from seed. buying a bag of seed is by far loads cheaper as you get heaps of plants from one bag of seed.
I am also a stick in the mud for good quality food. So home grown veg fits that perfectly.
If you don't really like gardening, haven't got the space or don't taste any difference with store bought veg.. then setting up a veggie garden will be a waste of time and money obviously.

I am also a sucker for good coffee. But if it gets too expensive, I'd rather go without, or drink a lot less of it, than to buy cheaper kinds of coffee. Buying a cheaper coffee would for us be a false economy.

Also, it may be so that you have to buy a cheap sofa for instance, even though you'd rather go for the better quality one. But when it's a crunch.. if you don't HAVE the money to invest in good quality.. then what are you going to do? You may know that it's a false economy but if it's all you can afford at that time and you absolutely need that item.. then you'll do it won't you?

So you see, it's different for everybody. It all depends on your situation and your motivation.

Beetlemama

Children's shoes.

DH and I can wear anything but DS goes through them like no-ones business, I kept think "Thank goodness I didn't pay very much for these!" as he came home with another ruined shoe, but then a friend gave us a pair of Clarks her son had outgrown in the month they bought them, and they lived for a good 8 months before he outgrew them. Until the day he last took them off I could polish them and make them look just about new again.

No more £6 ASDA school shoes.

Penelope_Penguin

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing thread to keep ideas together

gsysezz

budgetboo wrote: »

I agree with Grey Queen mostly methinks.

BUT - I freely admit I have made poor purchase choices when I haven't had the cash upfront to buy quality e.g my Beko washing machine - as soon as the guarantee ran out it's given me grief. It's now under an expensive service warranty that allowed me to pay monthly for a year while I save for a decent John Lewis (3 year guarantee) or miele (10 year guarantee). Summat goes wrong with it now every 2 months.

A real pain as living in a small flat with a sn kid I NEED a washing machine, and I constantly regret ever buying that BEKO. It's a mistake I won't repeat (£35 a WEEK for the laundrette etc!

Have you considered applying to 'The Family Fund' as they will buy washing machines for families with SN children. May be worth investigating?

BitterAndTwisted

thriftwizard wrote: »

This will probably raise a bit of controversy, but cheap new sewing machines are generally not good bargains. The build quality isn't good, and they're built to fall apart in 5 years & not be repairable, so that you become "repeat custom". /QUOTE]

This isn't controversial at all. At least not in my house. And it's true of nearly all domestic appliances. It frustrates me so much I could cry sometimes. Even my ruddy rechargeable toothbrush gave up the ghost the other day. Luckily it has a year's guarantee so I'll be off to Boots to claim a replacement or my money back on Wednesday.

I've always been a firm believer that there's no earthly reason to buy anything other than the cheapest loo paper. And even that's not particularly cheap any more at over 16 pence a roll. I resent paying good money just to chuck something away within a nanosecond of using it. But I'm afraid to say that after spending a few days at my sister's place over Christmas I'm on the verge of changing my mind. Someone stop me, please!

rising_from_the_ashes

budgetboo wrote: »

BUT - I freely admit I have made poor purchase choices when I haven't had the cash upfront to buy quality e.g my Beko washing machine - as soon as the guarantee ran out it's given me grief. It's now under an expensive service warranty that allowed me to pay monthly for a year while I save for a decent John Lewis (3 year guarantee) or miele (10 year guarantee). Summat goes wrong with it now every 2 months.

I've got a Beko washing machine (similar to you, it was all I could afford when the old one packed in) and.... it is the best wm I've ever had:D (Which? best buy on the model I got).

Have you been in touch with Beko 'cos they should certainly last longer than a year.

ALIBOBSY

We plumped for the beko when our last one gave up the ghost as we are a large family and they did the 9kg one that can take duvets etc.
Just coming up on a year tho so hope it doesn't give up the ghost as we really need it with 6 of us. the good thing about the big drum is it does less washes as it takes so much in one lot. I love it so far.

So far so good fingers crossed.

Ali x