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What is worth the extra cost?

38 replies

Frizzbonce · 14/01/2014 14:26

Rollerskaterabbit got an interesting thread going on wasting money which got me thinking - what do you not mind spending a bit extra on? What are you GLAD you've splashed out on?

I bought my DD a pair of Clarkes boots the other day. They cost £50, but her feet were measured, the boots are soft leather and really well made, and from experience I know she'll have them for a year at least. Still hurt but I think it was worth it.

I never feel guilty about buying books

John Lewis Egyptian cotton sheets and duvet cover. Had them for five years. Still crisp, white and perfect. (Unlike me who's become more beige and slightly soggier) Grin

OP posts:
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Rollerskaterabbit · 14/01/2014 16:20

For me it was getting a super kingside bed and a a Tempur mattress for it. Sheer bliss but the initial outlay was a lot. Don't regret it though as really comfortable.

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RandomMess · 14/01/2014 20:00

Yep decent bed and mattress and egyptian cotton sheets and silk duvet, sleep so much better and should last for years and years!

All bought in the sale as well...

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Creamycoolerwithcream · 14/01/2014 20:20

Proper built furniture instead of flat pack stuff.

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Fairylea · 14/01/2014 20:22

I spent £48 on geox boots for 19 month old ds. They are waterproof and snow proof and he insists on walking EVERYWHERE so at least I know he'll be comfortable and they will last him a good while yet as they have decent growing room.

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IamInvisible · 14/01/2014 20:25

Decent pans.

We've been married 20 years in March, and bought some pans with a 10 year guarantee with some of the money we were given. They cost just under £100 back then. I remember my DSis thinking I was mad.

I have just replaced them with a set with a 25yr guarantee that were reduced from £250 to £81 in the January sales.

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Debs75 · 14/01/2014 20:29

A decent bed. We spent over £600 on a new bed 10 years ago and we only now need a new one. I don't have any spare money though so have no idea whether I can splurge or buy basic and suffer the bad backs and necks.

I had a bed hand made for DD1 4 years ago which is mind-blowingly gorgeous. Dark wood, solid as a rock and very comfortable. It could last her a lifetime so was very well worth the £400.

If things are meant to last then I would like to spend the most I can afford. Usually that isn't very much. Things like clothes I am happy to be bargain basement

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Euthah · 14/01/2014 20:31

It's not about cost, it's about cost per go.

I bought a pen for £60 (half price and all) 10 years ago. I still have it, and I still use it -because it's so lovely I never lose it. I bet I'd have got trough more than £60 of other pens by now.
df
£60 is £6 per year, or 50p per month, or about 2p every day I've written with it.

It's lovely.

(still in denial that I bought two because they were half price though. And yes, I do still have both. One needs a new nib though because it rolled off my desk)

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Laska42 · 14/01/2014 20:41

Good leather shoes and boots, polishing them now and then and getting them resoled when they need it ..

A sort of 'capsule' work wardrobe.. mainly blacks greys blues purples with cardis and layers..

Regular hair cuts ( but I have short straight hair and never pay more than £20-25 for a cut and colour it myself , also getting my eyelashes tinted and brows done every so often.. (but not my nails.. they wouldnt last with my outdoorish lifestyle )

A Berghaus jacket , waterproof and windproof doesn't date, lasts for years.. ditto a pair of Dubarry Kildare boots . Yes they cost ££s (and were a christmas present from DH) but ive had them years and they still are water proof and look good.

Yes and a really good mattress, ( though we dont actually have a bed! its on the floor!) ,and white sheets and duvet covers so all interchangeable ,,

Gosh.. that all make me sound a bit posh and well off .. I'm not at all , quite the opposite , but I have learnt to buy decent things and look after them ..

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confusedofengland · 14/01/2014 21:14

I always buy new Clarks shoes for DSes, despite SIL trying to give me DN's hand-me-downs.

Also, we buy a new Moses basket mattress for each new baby & will be buying a car seat for DS3 (due next month) as the one from DS1 & 2 is over 5 years old now.

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peachactiviaminge · 14/01/2014 21:18

Coffee we're on ESA so luxuries are small but I used to drink value until I tried Milicano now I only buy that when its on offer or go without.

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WaitingForMe · 14/01/2014 21:30

Good shoes. I have expensive shoes and boots that go to the cobblers as often as some of my friends buy new ones.

I've got a pair of knee-high boots that cost £200 and still look like new. This is their third winter and I reckon they could go a decade. One friend spends £50 each winter.

I find it's the same for many things. The problem is saving up for the initial purchase of the good stuff.

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Rumbled45 · 14/01/2014 23:52

Waitingforme I agree that you need to have the cash for investment items. One of my major problems is I buy cheap - £30 on shoes/boots mostly non leather, £40-50 on coats where the buttons fall off one by one £10-20 on tops and bottoms.

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Preciousbane · 14/01/2014 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

duchesse · 15/01/2014 00:03

We are fortunate to live in the crunchy SW, where we have access to a range of shoe-makers. I buy DD3's shoes from a shoemaker. They are made to measure for her feet, she gets to choose the leathers and design, the shoemaker can stretch them an extra size for a small extra fee, and when they've grown out of the stretched version he will cut the ends off to make sandals. £45, or £49 if you have appliqué shit we do. She'll get 2 years out of them and they're exactly as she wants them to be. I think that's good value.

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SavoyCabbage · 15/01/2014 00:08

That sounds amazing duchesse!

I've had my Egyptian cotton sheets for twelve years. And I've only got two sets of bedding so they have been in constant use for six years each and they still look and feel good. In fact, they seem to get softer with age.

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thisworld · 15/01/2014 00:10

Decent luggage. Not worth buying stuff that is uncomfortable to carry or that falls apart when you have loads to carry.

Appliances. Worth it for reliability and not having the hassle of repairs.

Pans and bakeware. Decent brand lasts much longer, especially with the ordeals I put them through!

Towels. I don't spend loads but buy decent brands in the sales and they stay thick and absorbent.

Outdoor and sports clothing. More comfortable to wear and does what it's supposed to - keep rain out, stretch with the body instead of ripping or keeps sweat wicked away.

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guccigirly · 15/01/2014 00:11

Good foundation / BB cream are worth splashing out on. You can get away with cheap eyeshadow and lipsticks, but a decent foundation will last all day and look good. My favourites are Clarins (foundation) and Decleor (BB cream).

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charlieandlola · 15/01/2014 00:14

Good bras.

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Doyouthinktheysaurus · 15/01/2014 00:21

Decent coffee.
Definitely good shoes
Tights
Running clothes and shoes
Quality mattress

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Chottie · 15/01/2014 01:28

Miele machines, yes they are expensive but they last and don't seem to need to be repaired.

Good quality saucepans, kitchen knives, towels and bedding. They last, do the job well and are a pleasure to use.

As someone has said, the problem is the initial outlay to buy all this stuff.

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SweetPeaPods · 15/01/2014 02:28

Good bra and good wine

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AgaPanthers · 15/01/2014 02:46

The foot measuring is a bit of a scam IMO, it's not precision science finding shoes that fit. Decent shoes are a different issue, mind.

Most of these things aren't 'credit crunch' anyway.

Most bed brands are massively overpriced and even expensive ones can be poorly built. Kitchen knives are often a big rip-off - yes there are good and crap ones, but Global for example charge twice as much as lesser known names of similar quality.

A lot of pans are hideously overpriced too, my £6 Chinese cast iron frying pan shits all over my £100 fancy-pants non-stick one.

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VestaCurry · 15/01/2014 04:01

Hellmans Mayonnaise

Egyptian Cotton bed linen

Rigby & Peller bras

MBT boots (they have saved my lower back which was getting v painful)

Nuits St Georges wine - would rather have this occasionally than cheaper wines often

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duchesse · 15/01/2014 08:27

We have a Siemens dishwasher that is probably 15-20 years old (was here and definitely not new when we moved in 10 years ago) and has never had a moment's illness in 10 years. Now that's value.

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ohmymimi · 15/01/2014 11:42

The trick is getting the quality without the extra cost, my mission in life.

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