Splurge or save?

[Troelsismyname]

Can I ask for your best tips of when (and what) you buy more expensive, high quality versions of things, and when you can get away with budget versions that are absolutely good enough? I am trying to budget a bit more generally but also find myself valuing higher quality in certain things more and more as I get older (fewer but quality clothes etc).

However, I don't always feel like I am making the right choices, and always see things on TV about how the 'luxury' options of brands are no better at all than budget buys. For example beauty products. I don't want to make false economies by buying cheap but also don't want to waste money unnecessarily!

Please therefore tell me your best budget buys and things you always spend a bit more on, and why?! Can be anything, food, furniture/furnishings, clothes, make-up, kids stuff. Thanks!

Have used Creme De La Mer. Nivea Creme is better. Just warm it in your hands the same way to get it to soak in!

Would never use anything else!

I always buy our cat Science Plan food rather than cheaper brands as he eats far less of it as it's more filling, so a bag lasts ages. Plus he's in the best health, very glossy etc, and he likes Science Plan whereas with some cheaper brands he goes fussy after a while of having a brand of food and won't eat it.

TVs I do know about (DP is into electronics). Basically they’re all made of the same stuff until you get up into stupid money (thousands). The companies sell the right to put their brand on an identical TV to a cheaper one. So I always go relatively cheap with TVs.

Furniture, solid wood is worth the investment. Bedframes, not so much. But mattresses and bedding it’s worth paying more if you can.

I suspected so about mattresses. We need a new one and it's hard to accept the crazily high prices. Would hate to fall for marketing on that one!

Was just coming on to say the same thing about Nivea creme. I put my daughter onto it too.

I think it's worth looking for thick jersey cotton things but they're not always more expensive. Cotton prices went up a couple of years ago and primark clothes became quite thin. The Gap is good for boys clothing but I get it in the sale.

I don't tend to regret buying super cheap things.

But would maybe spend more on things if the cheap version wouldn't work.

Generally butter instead of Marge.

Plastic bottles that don't leak like sistema but would try to get them in the sale.

Luggage. I'm not saying I always go for Samsonite but having had too many cheapo bags where the zips fall apart after a few uses, I do think you get what you pay for. And you certainly don't want to be stuck in the back-end of beyond with a suitcase with the wheels broken off!

Computers. Again, I don't go top of the range, but a cheap computer can be incredibly frustrating to use. Which reminds me.... time for a new laptop. A better one this time.

Classic shoes buy in the sales/outlets, polish them regularly and keep in the boxes when not using them. A £100 pair of shoes resoled and reheeled when necessary will last minimum 10 years. (and try to find a decent cobbler not a high street chain, they will use better quality products for the same or less money)

You know the saying "I'm too poor to buy cheap stuff"? It means that if you look for cheap, the quality might be exactly the same. Sure, what's expensive isn't always good.

However, there are a few things that I can't do without: Guinot face cream, expensive but works for me, only Bioderma SPF both for face and body (I wear SPF on my face daily), expensive leather boots, expensive coats, rather expensive bags (don't think LV or Michael Kors or whatever, I find them rather tacky).

I avoid Primark as much as I can, though I'm a sucker for their pyjamas and home stuff.

Highest quality pet food you can afford.
Natural fibre clothing (eBay for good deals)
Excellent perfume (personal choice)
Quality mascara
Best computer or tablet

Also: high end perfume. I would say I've got my "signature scent"
-laptop- got an macbook air, more than happy with it
-make-up: I have always had problematic skin, so I only use high end when it comes to foundation, blusher, powder. Same goes with mascara. After I've tried Guerlain, I couldn't go back.
-bedding- Whatever bedding I got cheap, didn't last in time

I think that many brands have varying levels of quality across their ranges, so I tend to look for things on an individual basis and research before I buy.

The types of things we consider include what can we afford, how often will it be used, how long does it need to last for etc. This does lead us to a natural price point that we are happy to pay. For most things, we pay mid range prices. For example, we bought a washing machine for about £500 and there were some cheaper and some more expensive in the shops. We based our decision on the features we wanted it to have.

Value cotton wool pads are better than mainscale. It's about a 5p saving though.

Meat. Always from the butcher. Perfume. Underwear. Jewellery.

Yes to meat! Our local butcher does a sale fridge (use that day or freeze immediately) and it works out cheaper than supermarket meat for a family of 5. However, the quality is much much better from the butcher.

Meat - I always buy from a local butcher. More expensive but much nicer.
Beauty products - Aldi is great. I love their skin care range. I also buy aldi/Lidl toiletries.
Boots - I think it's worth investing in a good pair as you can wear them for years.
I think a good quality mattress is probably a good investment. Ours isn't and although I love it DH says it gives him a bad back so false economy really. We are going to have to invest in a good one.
White goods - I always look for fairly cheap with good reviews.
I do think good quality make up is worth it though - especially eye shadow and mascara.

I would have said clothes, but last week went into primark for the first time in years and bought two jumpers for £6 each that feel really good quality, lovely and soft, plus some sports wear/ Lycra type stuff, and their ‘cosy’ leggings and they all seem really good for the money. To be fair, 90% of the stuff looked cheaply made and cheap fabrics so I won’t be buying loads, but after a decent rummage got a few really nice bits and spent less than £30 (which would be the cost of a similar jumper in next or Debenhams, and could be way way more somewhere else)

Thanks for these. We have also come to the conclusion that occasional butcher quality meat alongside a mainly veggie diet is preferable to lots of supermarket meat.

I feel the same about shoes, cheap ones do feel a false economy on the whole. And I've lost count of number of t shirts that have gone out of shape. Maybe I need to just invest in more expensive ones. However some higher end clothes are definitely not worth it ime!

I also need certain skincare brands as I have problematic skin. So actually ending up going for quality there most of the time. Is more expensive mascara, eyeshadow etc worth it?

Any other great bargain swap ideas would be welcome!

Splurge on toilet roll and bin bags - cheap ones are a false economy. Also splurge on footwear and coats.

Save on chopped tomatoes and I buy the fake jo malone stuff from aldi to make the house smell nice

Bedding. I buy >600 thread counts. They are so soft like hotel's and if you think of the cost per usage it is so worth it.

Superdrug own brand potions and lotions. Their Natural Radiance is fab for your face. The Ordinary is very cheap and brilliant for skin care and foundation. Both cruelty free! Have saved me a fortune (I'm a bit of a skincare addict lol).

TK Maxx for good brand clothes if you can be arsed searching for ages. Lol

If you email The Ordinary 'monkeys' (as they call themselves) with details and photos of your skin needs, they will advise you, for free, what's best .

I buy expensive foundation, as it makes so much difference to the overall look , but am happy with budget other make up. Actually the Chanel foundation lasts 2 years of daily use , so it’s probanly as cheap anyway.

I've discovered an 8 hour cream dupe in aldi for 3.99 and it's v good.I won't buy cheap perfume but I'm fine with cheap body lotion.Another good buy is rimmel 25hr foundation it's only 7.99 as is often recommended as a estee lauder double wear alternative

This is a really interesting thread!

I always spend on leather handbags (my classic Coach bucket bag was £400 but is beautiful and timeless and such good quality), decent boots and shoes, coats, foundation, concealer and perfume.

I find Maybelline mascara better than expensive brands and am not bothered about branded food (I think Aldi is fantastic).

I used to buy expensive towels but now prefer cheaper supermarket towels. I can get more towels for less money, I'm not anxious about spoiling them and because I have more there's less urgency keeping up with the towel wash.

I like decent gin with cheap tonic or cheap gin with expensive tonic.

I'm at the age / body shape where paying for a decent properly fitting bra means my clothes look better no matter what I spend on them.