Comments on: When You Go Too Cheap

By: NYC reader

NYC reader — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:05:11 +0000

The following quote (of dubious origin but usually misattributed to John Ruskin), pretty much says it all:

“There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers price only is that man’s lawful prey.”

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:08:42 +0000

I have noticed that the quality of chicken breasts is often rather poor, when they have a big sale. This breasts often have visible lines running through them. I am pretty sure they are from old laying hens, now past their laying prime. If I find a half-way decent package, I simmer them & make chicken enchiladas. You have to go with the flow, and adjust cooking methods to quality level, when looking for bargains.

By: friend

friend — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:45:32 +0000

Before this thread disappears, just had to share this link with you from The New York Times:

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/toilet-paper-and-other-moral-choices/

Trent is not the only one obsessing over TP these days!

By: Heidi

Heidi — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:44:01 +0000

I use coupons to get my toilet paper for free, I have about 2 years supply of free Scott Extra Soft toilet paper that I got 100% free after coupons. I may use a few more squares per wipe but I don’t really care because it was free.

One thing that was not mentioned was to take back bad products to the store. If the chicken was rotten they the store should take it back. If the toilet paper was inferior, you should try taking it back. Most store brands have a satisfaction guarantee that if you are not fully satisfied you can return it.

Otherwise good tips!

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:29:51 +0000

I actually find that I get name brand items cheaper by waiting for sales and using coupons. Only if I’m in dire need of a product and there are no sales will I go generic. And stuff like toilet paper – every couple weeks Charmin or Cottonelle goes on sale and there’s always coupons for them – stock up then when the name brand actually falls below the generic price!

I think electronics are one thing you shouldn’t buy “the cheapest” of. If you are saving money in other ways, it’s good to “splurge” on items that you want to last a long time.

I really like this post – and it brings back a good point, Why scrimp and save on some things if you aren’t going to take those savings and spend them on things that really matter to your family?

By: reulte

reulte — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:11:54 +0000

Saver queen — I’ll also second Land’s End (even though their clothes don’t usually flatter me)they do last; and if not — their customer service is excellent. Eddie Bauer and LLBean clothes also seems to last forever. Neiman Marcus also carries excellent brands — I have a cashmere sweater that I’ve had for 15 years and it hasn’t pilled yet — but wait for their sales. Another thing to do if there is a NM store (or other quality store) nearby is to go through the items you’re interested in and really look at them to get a feel for quality goods – spend a couple of hours and look for the quality of the material and for the quality of the manufacture. I also check out thrift stores — you occasionally find good labels — inspect thoroughly; turn the items inside and out, check seams, give a tug, check for quality button sewing-on-ness, make sure hems (skirt & pants) are actually sewed and not just zigzag-threaded on.

By: SINGLE GUY MONEY

SINGLE GUY MONEY — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:01:56 +0000

My mom wastes so much money this way. She always buys the cheapest stuff she can find only to end up not using it or just throwing it away. Most of them time, she can save money just by buying the name brand.

By: Scot

Scot — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:54:55 +0000

I work with an older man that was born in India. He said there is an old Indian proverb that is roughly translated: “A man who buys high cries one time. A man who buys cheap cries many times.”

Now I like to be as frugal as anyone else on here, but whenever I start to buy something that is really cheap (and possibly of inferior quality) I try to think about this proverb.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:23:24 +0000

I have found the same theory applies to tools a lot of the time. For example buying a cheap fry pan is just a waste of money. The teflon flakes off and you get it in your food then you are back to the store to get another one. It is better to invest in a ‘proper’ and even expensive fry pan then you don’t have to worry about taking it back to the store.
I also agree with Bill in NC -Bad food goes back to the store for a FULL refund!

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:19:49 +0000

Always sample before making a big commitment or switching! If you don’t you may end up with what I call a “false economy”. If the kids won’t eat it, and it goes to waste– I didn’t save anything . . .

Always sample!

By: Bill in NC

Bill in NC — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:39:05 +0000

Bad food goes back to the store for a FULL refund.

By: Jess

Jess — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:36:30 +0000

Your mom could have donated the chicken to an animal shelter to use as pet food. Shelters are suffering from the economy too with too many animals being left homeless and not enough donations.

By: Urban Frugal

Urban Frugal — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:52:03 +0000

I understand your pain, sometimes trying a different brand yields very unsatisfactory results. I have had that happen before. I probaly would have still used the toilet paper up and then gone back to my regular brand, but in the case of food items that aren’t spoiled, just not to my tastes I try to give them to someone else. Spoiled food, or off tasting, I return, if it isn’t expired.

By: Bay

Bay — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:45:47 +0000

As soon as I saw TP mentioned again, I just had to click over to read the comments…hysterical

By: martian

martian — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:02:39 +0000

My personal “too cheap” moment was when I noticed the Aldi toothpaste I had been buying was made in China. They have slightly more expensive varieties that are made locally (Australia), so I can still save money but not feel uneasy about the quality.

By: martian

martian — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:57:27 +0000

Trent, I think you need a warning icon for posts that mention obscene concepts like toilet paper, to protect the delicate sensibilities of some readers. (OK, I’m joking!)

By: thisisbeth

thisisbeth — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:19:01 +0000

For those speaking of clothes (by the way, thanks for the tip on LandsEnd!), consider taking classes to learn to sew. Sewing clothes is not cheap, unfortunately, but by learning how to sew you will also learn to recognize good construction on purchased clothes.

By: Joey

Joey — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:43:07 +0000

What’s with all the TP entries? We don’t need to hear about how you wipe your nether regions. This is a finance blog, not a hygiene blog.

By: michael

michael — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:34:48 +0000

it’s worth noting that it’s not just frozen chicken that can be found to be unbelievably gross. Frozen hamburger patties are sometimes DISGUSTING!!!!

By: Shevy

Shevy — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:50:46 +0000

@Saver Queen
If the chicken was “inedible” and “unfit for human consumption” why would anyone even consider making chicken broth or pet treats out of it?

I know the majority of the pet food industry makes a living doing this stuff :cough: melamine :cough: but I choose to feed my pet high quality food, not animal byproducts, fishmeal and the like.

And I’ve had food poisoning a couple of times too many to be interested in experimenting on myself with the broth idea.