The Great 'What do you regret skimping on?' Hunt Revisited

RedGoose

Tights! I've lost count of the number of pairs of "outstanding value" pairs I've had to bin after a couple of wears (even the "ladder resist" ones)- and they feel horrible. Spending a bit more has totally been worth it.

Also (and possibly a "niche" thing here): knitting wool. I like very fine knits, which leads to a lot of knitting. Even if I spend more on the yarn, it lasts me a long time (it's not worth spending 6 months knitting a 4ply cardi in cheap yarn) and have a garment I'll love for years.

purpleweasel

GirlCalledPanda: "Cheap washing up liquid - 33p seemed like a bargain but ended up buying a bottle every week as we had to use loads of it. Had to concede that the brand loving OH was right, we've had a bottle of fairy since the weekend before xmas and it's still half full."[/QUOTE]

i agree - bought a bottle in October & it's only just run out

at the risk of being a bit personal, cheap underwear! Mum bought me cheapy knickers and they were a dreadful fit! never worn again & sat at the back of the drawer for ages before being binned

Indie_Kid

eyelinerprincess wrote: »

I will never compromise on teabags! Bought the cheapo Morrisons ones to try one day and was begging my dad for some of his lovely Tetley out the teapot after the first sip.

Am I the only one who likes cheap tea bags? Well, the Sainsburys ones.:o

Di_B

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Am I the only one who likes cheap tea bags? Well, the Sainsburys ones.:o

We like the Sainsbury's ones! We bought some for camping and were really surprised at the quality of their basics t-bags!

I like saving money, but only where I don't have to scrimp on quality. To me, I need comfy toilet roll, branded baked beans (the tomato sauce in the cheap ones is nasty!) and those thick non-ripping bin liners liners!
Milk and bread are also items where I buy branded, but I worry about these items going off all the time. My OH has accepted it as one of my quirks

I also try to go for a level of quality in clothes/shoes. Some things are just too thin/poorly made nowadays and last a month or two rather than years. I believe I save money in the long run - and get better fitting items!

oldnewhand

When we were first married (1970) Which magazine suggested starting with the cheapest of everything and moving up the price range until you found a brand that you were happy with. Works really well until brands downshift their quality like sausages that ooze fat and have no real flavour. Agree with toilet roll - I respect my fingers too much to use cheap twin ply. Fresh orange juice and quality? sliced bread are better but not twice as good so only buy if on offer; home made bread is best. Cheap shampoo and shower gel is thin and runs off before cleaning so isn't a bargain.

missprice

Toilet paper for sure a decent brand, when I have been skint I still buy the good stuff.
Cheap underwear, from primark/asda living/tesco et all. Not worth it at all, terrible fit and feels awful on skin.

Bin bags well I have a small kitchen bin so use the shopping bags, never buy black bin bags. Had big kitchen bin once but cos it took a week and a half to fill, it stunk badly. So changed to small bin and it is emptied every 2 days so no smell.

I like fairy liquid, but one of my kids is allergic to it, hands swell and blisters appear so I buy cheap.
Clothes from primark ( excepting underwear) are OK, if you go at sale time you can get a t shirt for a quid. They last about a year so I have no problem with that. They are mean in material so I am several sizes bigger but jeans for 50 p I don't care if it says size16 on the label.

Shoes well I live in trainers at the moment, even so I refuse to spend more than £30 a pair. Less than that can be a bad fit with very little cushioning, more than that and your paying for a name or label.

Furniture however I spend really good money on. My kitchen table was about £100 something like 30 years ago. It still looks good, it has moved home about 15 times and is regularly abused (people stand on it to put blinds up/change lightbulbs its my pasting table etc)
Same with mattress, would rather get a great mattress and cheaper bed frame.

Indie_Kid

missprice wrote: »

I like fairy liquid, but one of my kids is allergic to it, hands swell and blisters appear so I buy cheap.

I seem to remember someone at uni using Persil washing up liquid, which lasted just as long.

missprice

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I seem to remember someone at uni using Persil washing up liquid, which lasted just as long.

And I am allergic to persil washing up liquid and washing powder and softener.

Same problem blisters and red skin.

Between me and the child in question we cant use a whole host of stuff as one or other has a reaction. Makes life interesting

Its eczema and we both suffer, palms of hands and soles of feet only.

rajp

Cheap Electronics, like USB cables and Tablet.... a lot of times you hope to save money, but its a waste as the products dont work and you end up either paying more to replace them or not happy with the way it works

Bin bags - are another one you have to double them up so waste of money any way....iceland had good backs but they were smaller in size compared to normal ones we got before.

sedment

Dont like value teabags, soup binbags, washing powder or fabric conditioner, stuff thats ok for us is pasta shapes lasagna sheets spaghetti tinned tomatoes and fresh and frozen veg. But for coffee and tea, beans, cereal, and jams and spreads cold meat etc i buy own brand but not value. Go to the local butchers for my meat, they do a 6 for £20 deal with mince, stewing steak, beef olives etc. So we have meat or chicken every second night, and a veggie option every other night. Could be soup and pudding or mac and cheese.