To ask what you think is worth spending a bit extra on?

[ethelfleda]

And what you think isn’t?
Can be anything - food, clothes, holidays etc etc?

For example, I’ve just bought some socks that are a cashmere blend and wonder how I could now ever go back to boring old cotton.
Likewise, I usually spend a bit more on coffee for good quality. But some food items such as tinned pulses - I don’t think it matters buying cheap.

What items do you spend a little more on because you think they’re worth it? And which do you buy the cheapest of because you can’t notice any difference?

Thanks for taking part in a mundane thread

Shoes
Bags
Quality pasta
Meat and poultry
Lipstick and mascara
Coats
Education
Furniture and white goods

I am genuinely poor so there's not a lot of cash to spend on anything. However, I won't buy cut price/own brand tea (it has to be Yorkshire Tea), only buy real butter (I don't even count Lurpack as 'real'!) and meat has to be good quality (hate picking bone/gristle/fat out of a stew).

Anything else, well, if there's the money I buy the best I can afford but really there's often not much to choose between the best and the cheapest if you shop carefully.

Anything.
Cheap versions are never quite the same. They might be okay, but still never as good, it doesn't matter whether it's food, cars, clothing, hotels, cosmetics: to cut the price, manufacturers have to reduce quality to some extent.

Hotels, you got to have a decent nights sleep. Sheets, puts cotton high tc is a must. I can turn some of the cheapest ingredients into great food but fresh herbs really help in many dishes (of course growing your own is a cheap way of doing it)

Fairy Liquid and toilet roll (buy cheap buy twice)
Foundation
Shampoo
Free range eggs
I think that's it :)

Eggs
Nice vine tomatoes.
Shoes.
Proper winter coat.

free range eggs
lurpak, though if i can get to Aldi Norpak is good
Loo paper
Face cream
make up

Ace thread!

Decent foundation and primer - all other make up happy to go cheaper

Salt - good quality salt is really important in how food tastes

Booze!

Candles - a good quality scented candle is sooo much nicer

Go cheap on the cat food - used to spend a fortune on the “good stuff” then had a skint period so bought cheap and the cats really don’t notice so never switched back!

oh and Honey

@StickyParkin

Ethical down? How does that work? Genuinely interested as I can’t imagine any other way of harvesting down than plucking it from a bird!

Higher end

Meat
Coats for kids
Paint and wallpaper
Carpets
Curtains
Bed linen
Washing laundry stuff
Tights
Shoes/boots
Perfume
Kids shoes/boots
Bread
Eggs

Lower end
Loo cleaner
Bleach
Food bags
Kitchen roll
Coffee (Lidl specially selected is lovely)
Frozen veg

Oh coffee and olive oil have to be good quality too

Shoes. My Dad always taught me that cheap shoes are a false economy and I completely agree. I’d rather have less shoes but have better quality ones.

Fairy washing up liquid and also their platinum dishwasher tablets.

Bed linen
Foundation
Cutlery
Bed and mattress
Pillows

Most things bed related really!

Fresh fruit and veg
Good tinned tomatoes
Fresh fish
Real butter
Oral B pro expert toothpaste

Teabags and makeup. That’s about it, 80% of the time cheaper doesn’t mean worse quality.

Going high end on porridge oats always baffles me - it’s an oat, how much better can one oat be? I’m prepared to be told I’m wrong though!

Children’s shoes. There are so many, many things I would sacrifice if need be to ensure my son has proper shoes. Never understand people who can afford it getting stupid shit with no support.

I would gave said skincare until I recently changed from Ester Lauder to Superdrug’s be radiant range and it’s just as good for about a sixth of the price.

I’d pay more for...
kitchen roll
Loo roll
Bin bags
Waterproof coats and walking boots

Mmmm difficult, I think once you can afford something a bit better whatever it may be, it’s easy to get a taste for it.

So good quality boots, handbags and purses
Good quality food including coffee, tea and wine
Cars
Mattress
Flights
Sofas

I agree with most other people. I haven’t always been able to afford nice things but I would miss them if I could t anymore.

shoes/boots
perfume
lingerie (within reason)
coats
handbags
Cognac
dog food

M&S food
Local butcher for meat

Coffee
Butter
Fairy Liquid
Mattress

I always buy my clothes from charity shops, can’t remember the last timeI bought new clothes, not necessarily being cheapskate but I used to work in the fashion industry and it’s such a pretentious world (wasn’t even ‘high end’ fashion ). I also think it is more ethical to buy second hand.

Someone mentioned "good rice" upthread. What's good rice? Isn't rice just rice?

I spend on:
Organic/farm eggs
Perfume
Foundation
Tinned tuna (has to be steak not chunks)
Cat litter
Scented candles
Pesto

Blue that remind me that I do prefer Uncle Ben’s rice, it is much easier to cook without sticking, have tried cheaper rice but always seem to go back to UB (perhaps it’s my cooking).