As we reach that time for reflection, regret and resolution, via Lifehacker, I found this great New York Times article on The Financial Benefits of Buying What You Love.
In his case, it was spending $5k on a hand-built road bike a decade ago that he has loved, cared for and used exclusively ever since.
I know some will say ‘fine if you have the cash’ but from my own experience, I’ve continually made the mistake of buying a mediocre product because it was what I could afford at the time, when if I’d waited as little as a few weeks I’d have had something far superior that I’d have cherished. In my case it wasn’t ‘affordability’ per se but the desire for instant gratification that proved my undoing.
What ‘expensive’ things have you bought that still keep on giving?
DougieJ says
deramdaze says
I can’t vouch for New York (wouldn’t want to) but in the UK the notion of ‘you get what you pay for’, which held sway 100, 50, or even, at a considerable push, 30 years ago, has never held less sway than now.
Examples?
Professional sport, live music, recorded music, clothing, books…..actually, anything.
You’re just as likely……no, FAR more likely…….to get value out of a £5 outlay as a £100 one.
DougieJ says
Hmmm – depends. The key point in the OP is that you should buy things you genuinely love, not just expensive things for the sake of it. I would agree that a £10 kettle or toaster is just as, possibly more, reliable than many premium branded equivalents (yes Dualit I’m talking to you).
Still dithering but following my recent enquiry to the massive about Nespresso I’m currently minded to go for a £15 stove-top Bialetti instead.
So it works both ways, but like I say I know from rueful experience that ‘saving money’ by buying, for example, a mediocre £400 laptop as opposed to an iPad doesn’t really fulfil in the long run…
Twang says
It’s about usage. If you use it a lot for a long time it’s not expensive. If you never use it and it was cheap it is. I usually buy quality and have never regretted it. If i can’t afford a decent one I do without.
Pie Chart says
I would agree with the OP as long as you’re investing in quality, not just the appearance of it as is often the case with heavily advertised branded goods.
My best (good) example would be my Global chef’s knife. Not just a beautifully crafted thing, still sharp as a scalpel after 15 years. It will last me a lifetime, I suspect.