Cheap things that last

[Purplepuddle]

I enjoyed reading through the recent thread about expensive things that were worth it. It was pointed out often that more expensive items usually last much longer .I've always valued quality over quantity but due to finances usually go for the cheaper end. I'm lucky to have a few high end items which I cherish and am more likely to be found in Aldi that Waitrose.

Today it occurred to my that the dress I'm wearing was bought from Primark 3 years ago and has had lots of wear yet it still in pristine condition and always gets nice compliments. My coat was £16 from Asda 6 years ago and still does its job and looks decent.

Anyone else find cheaper ended stuff actually isn't as throw away as some people may think?

And what are you best ones?

A wooden spoon that I bought in Ikea about a decade ago for, I think, £1. It's always the wooden spoon I look for. Perfect width for my hand, perfect smoothness of the wood, perfectly flared spoony bit with smooth edges for stirring up a risotto.

Primark sweatshirts, way better than my M&S and Hush ones.

My favourite top ever is from Asda. It’s midnight blue with a bit of sparkle, slightly batwing. It’s cut so well.

I love houseplants and always find good deals in supermarkets compared to garden centres. With good care, they have grown and bloomed just as well as the more expensive ones!

It’s got to be at least 10 years old.

Mugs/plates etc.

We bought a couple of very cheap Denby dinner sets for our first house (think £20 for a four person place setting).

20 years later the buggers are still going strong - not one piece of the 80 pieces we got is broken in any way.

I want new plates!

Sainsbury's toaster. I had it for 8 years. Would not spend £££ on Smeg.

Also, have quite a few lasting clothes from Primark. I don't really get why many people say that these things fall apart by just touching it. It's not true. I wouldn't buy shoes there or handbag, but they have decent dresses, jumpers etc.

My cheap plastic colander is 39 years old and is in perfect working order.

The set of 3 pans I bought from matalan as a stopgap over 20 years ago. For a tenner.

Lidl fruit trees! Mine do far better than everyone I know who bought expensive ones from garden centres.

Asda leggings don't fade like my m&s/next ones

Primark hoody has washed better than my superdry one

Some. Wilko baking tins better than my lake land ones

A silicone spatula thing from dunelm was £4 i use for everything! I love it

Loads of other things but id be here forever

A set of plastic kitchen tongs from IKEA. They cost around a quid 15 years ago and are still one of my most used utensils.

When DH and I moved in together 20 years ago now we bought a cheap set of oven trays from the basic range at Argos, it was something like 6 trays for £20. Not a single one has warped.

Not cheap cheap but a Mothercare travel pushchair. I bought it for my oldest five years ago for under £100 when other brands were close to £300 for something similar. It has been used non stop for all three children as well as their cousins. It still has plenty of life left in it

Primark basic long sleeved tops. Some of mine I bought before having kids so over 5 years ago now and they are still going strong. A pair of boots I bought on eBay for a fiver (brand new) they get used every winter and must be about seven years old. Primark thermal socks, most of my pairs are close to 7 years old now and still going strong

I bought a cotton sun dress from Tesco 15 years ago for £5, black strappy dress with white flowers. I wore it every summer until finally throwing it out this summer after losing a lot of weight. Best summer dress ever.

Primark long sleeved t shirts wash and dry over and over again.

Aldi make up and skin care. Love it!!

I bought 3 Primark jumpers (£1.99 each) 15 years ago and they are still going strong. Have kept their colour, not gone bobbly or out of shape. Clearly they must be made out of the most awful synthetic fibres, but I have certainly had my money’s worth out of them!

"Also, have quite a few lasting clothes from Primark. I don't really get why many people say that these things fall apart by just touching it. It's not true. I wouldn't buy shoes there or handbag, but they have decent dresses, jumpers etc."

I get most of my pyjamas from Primark. Got a pair in 2009 and had to replace them last year. (Elastic in bottoms went)

Bought a kitchen table and four chairs in Homebase about 15 years ago for £100. We had just moved house and had nothing in the kitchen. It was supposed to just give us something to sit on and eat at a table until we could afford something a bit nicer. It’s been used for three meals a day ever since. The chairs have cream fabric seat pads and come up really well with a bit of fairy and a nail brush too.

Primark jeans, chinos and PJs. DS aged 20 is still weairng Primark chinos I bought him when he was doing GCSEs.
My Primark PJs are the softest cotton jersey. I have posher pairs but they are no where near as comfortable.

I also bought a dozen plain white china soup bowls at Poundland once for serving food at a party. £1 each and going strong with not a single chip or crack of glaze, five years on, whereas John Lewis ones bought at a similar time look wrecked.

Primark t shirts (short and long sleeved), vest tops and tights. All wash brilliantly and last much longer than more expensive ones I have bought.

IKEA scissors. The ones that come in a pack of three sizes.

Texas Instruments calculator from my GCSE days (30 years and a few battery changes ago).

M&S dress I bought for £12 in a sale that I’ve worn for Christenings, interviews, and work and always get compliments on. I also have some Primark jumpers and some H&M trousers that have outlasted more expensive brands.

Second hand stuff that’s still going strong too.

My topshop clothes have lasted better than any others. Even the designer clothes I own don't wash as well. I fluctuate between a size 2 and 6 and my topshop clothes are flattering at any size. The oldest piece is maybe 20 years old and doesn't look it

Oh yes I forgot about the Argos basic dining set that's not got one chip or mark in 15 years!