Quality counts

[gilana]

I like a bargain as well as the next person, but I've learned over the years that there are some things that it's worth paying more for.

* A good iron - one that will really take out wrinkles, and not accidentally make more. I hated ironing until I got a fold-down ironing board and a good Braun iron.

* A real razor - I used to use the plastic disposables and I cut myself all the time. My sister gave me a Gillette Sensor years ago and I've rarely cut myself since. I like the Gillette Venus now, but YMMV.

* Really comfortable shoes - it's hard to be happy when your feet hurt. I have 3 pairs of Dansko clogs, and they're worth every penny I spend on them.

What's on your list?

Comments

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

Good kitchen knives! Of course, you have to accidentally cut yourself with them a couple of times before you get the hang of it. :-\

[gilana]

Oh, yes! Years ago I bought a reconditioned Wusthof chef's knife cheap at KitchenArts on Newbury St, and it's amazing. Sad that they're gone now, I don't know of any other place that does that.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Absolutely agreed on the necessity of a good knife, but I also think one is more likely to cut oneself with a bad one.

(Recently I was preparing food at someone else's house and said to the person who'd stepped in to help, "be very careful with that knife -- it's not very sharp." We laughed because it sounded funny, but it's totally true.)

Also, while I'm not saying everybody needs to have one, I am amazingly happy with my VitaMix. Yes, it costs a lot more than a regular blender, but it's really way beyond a blender and I can do things I couldn't even *think* about doing before.

[firstfrost.livejournal.com]

I also think one is more likely to cut oneself with a bad one.

This is a thing that I have heard many times, but I never cut myself with my old bad knives, but I *did* cut myself several times soon after getting my good knives. Generally doing stupid things like washing them, because I wasn't sufficiently careful of the blade.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Ah, I was thinking about handling a knife when it's not actually in use. Yes, if you're used a duller blade, that is definitely something to adjust to. :)

I meant while actually chopping, because a bad knife (or even a good one with a dull blade) has to be used carefully because it will often slip over/off the food instead of going through it. My knife technique is okay -- I'm definitely no expert, but when I'm using someone's bad knife I make much more of an effort to do the proper fingertips-tucked-under thing just in case, which has saved my hands on multiple occasions. Bad knives also make prep take much longer.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

There's also the trouble with bad knives that a dull edge will require the user to use substantially more strength to accomplish the same goal, resulting in a less-controlled motion. This is more of a concern with other-than-kitchen knives, really.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

We've just decided to buy the more expensive kitchen faucet because we already know we like it.

It's funny, I've developed a different attitude about irons. I bought a really nice one (Shark brand) for $70 some years ago. It stopped working spontaneously after two years. I couldn't find anyone willing to repair it because of liability issues. So threw out the Shark and bought a cheap $25 iron, which I've been using happily for 3.5 years now. I hate our consumer/disposable culture, but if money can't buy me quality, I'd rather spend $25 than $70 on something I'm going to have to throw away when it stops working.

[shanghaibex.livejournal.com]

A good haircut.

I have been known to spend $150 on a haircut. If you had my hair, you would agree that this is a necessity.

[kellyjmf.livejournal.com]

I agree on the shoes and the hair.

Theater tickets for the good seats, which is why I rarely go -- I can't afford to buy the tickets that are worth it.

Also, I believe Kitchen Arts was resurrected, but I haven't been so I can't confirm.

[gilana]

I sometimes like to go to shows alone, because if I get a single seat from the ArtsBoston half-price kiosk, it's easier to find one really good seat than two together.

Also, happy birthday!

[kellyjmf.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I tend to spend more on bras.

[valadil.livejournal.com]

Clothing. Expensive stuff usually lasts longer. If I'm getting a set number of wears per dollar spent, I'd rather spend a lot of dollars and minimize the number of times I have to go shopping. The exception to that is jeans. Denim that has survived Walmart is nigh indestructible.

[cristovau.livejournal.com]

Good power tools (drills specifically).
If you get a cheap one, you will be replacing it in three years. If you get a good one, no such problems.

A subscription to Consumer Reports (online or magazine).
There are too many goods out there to be an informed consumer about everything, except when you have a tool like Consumer Reports. This pays for itself every year.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

Shoes. Eyeliner and mascara. Computer anti-virus software, if it were relevant, but I have a Mac, so. :)

[kellyjmf.livejournal.com]

I'm the other way. I use mascara (and makeup in general) so infrequently that I just buy the cheapo stuff at CVS and chuck it soon after.

But when I used to where it more often, I did get the good stuff.

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

I use them infrequently too. :) I only wear makeup onstage, which boils down to maybe four weekends a year most years. If I buy the cheapo stuff, I use it for one show and then it dries up/rots/becomes otherwise Teh Yucko by the time I need it for the next show. The good stuff tends to last longer.

[brass-rat.livejournal.com]

Tissues. If I'm going to be rubbing it on my face, it should a) be soft and not have the texture of sand-paper, and b) not be full of perfume that makes me sneeze more (though that's less of a problem than it once was)

[shumashi.livejournal.com]

You know, I've been doing this for years, but never thought of it in those terms.

[kellyjmf.livejournal.com]

Puffs Plus all the way , baby. I also buy good TP for similar reasons.

[brass-rat.livejournal.com]

Puffs was way to perfummed when I was a kid. I think that's much less of a problem now. I tend to go with Kleenex, tho awhyzip has found some less name brands that are acceptable. And yes I have strong opinions about TP (and paper towels, tho mostly for durability) too.

[milktree.livejournal.com]

Tools. Not just having good quality ones (which is really important), but having the *right* ones. There's nothing quite as frustrating as having to use the wrong tool for the job. The first time you use the right tool after using a hack-tool for years, you think, "why the hell didn't I get this tool years ago?"

Food. It doesn't need to be super expensive Buck-a-Grape food, but eating food that makes you happy is really nice.

Kitchen knives. If you've got a couple good knives and a good stone, (and know how to use it) you don't need any more (I don't need any more) extra, crappy knives just get in the way.

[minkrose]

I'm going to agree with food! If I'm going to indulge in sweets, I'd rather get a cake from a bakery than a Hostess cupcake.

Though lately, I've found that my cooking skills have surpassed the mid-level restaurants that used to be my fall back options. I don't know if that's good or what, because now when I don't want to cook, I don't enjoy eating out as much!

[milktree.livejournal.com]

It's good. It means that 1) you're getting better at cooking, and getting better at *anything* is good, and 2) you can appreciate the difference between "good" and "good enough", which means you can enjoy it more. at least I can.

Going out to eat has gotten more expensive for me because in many cases I can cook better than what they'll serve me. Exceptions include ice cream and french fries (anything deep fried). I don't want that mess in my house.

Embrace your cookatude!

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Yeah--I tend to go out to eat either for the convenience or the service. But what I'd really like is someone to cook me my own food, the way I would cook it!

[hill-the-khore.livejournal.com]

Food was my first thought.

[minkrose]

I have nothing to add, but I agree with shoes, clothes and knives.

I would say that I don't always spend tons of money on things, but I try really hard to take good care of them. Even between myself and Andy, my phones tend to last longer and my clothes hold up better. I'm really over-cautious.

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

* Shoes and boots.
* Soldering irons.
* Laptops.
* Toilet paper.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

What a great question to ponder. :)

HOUSE PAINT! I'm going to pretty categorically say Never paint with house paint that costs less than $30 a gallon. $40 is better. I absolutely won't paint with ANY of the crap they sell at H.D. Plus if you put that garbage on your walls it will require more coats in order to cover, and need to be repainted 5 to 15 years sooner than if you put on good paint in the first place. Plus for $5 more per gallon you can get "zero-VOC" paint. Eventually I assume that will become mandatory, but until then it's still an excellent thing to spend money on.

Someone mentioned power tools, but I'll add that a well made hand tool is so incredibly much better than a cheap one, and often the price difference is not even exorbitant. A pair of pliers that doesn't close well or feels loose goes straight in the trash. And OMG hammers with loose heads? eep!

Also I'm with everyone who says "kitchen knives" and will add Knife Blades (x-acto and utility blades). It pains me to see old, dull crappy blade in my friends' utility knives... you know a pack of 100 blades is still probably about the cost of my co-pay for stitches at the hospital. Also a sheet of mat board costs $10, and if you cut it with a dull blade, chances are good you'll trash it and have to buy another sheet; a pack of 100 x-acto blades is 25-35 bucks.

[gansje.livejournal.com]

Definitely a good bed, and I'm in agreement about good knives. OH, and good, heavy-duty cookware that distributes heat evenly.

[saraheeyore.livejournal.com]

Bras!

[archiveninja.livejournal.com]

I do not skimp on shoes, either.

[metahacker.livejournal.com]

Ya. Woulda killed for a good iron and board last night, trying to get a pants and a shirt flat on a rickety board with rumpled foam and the lights flickering as the iron kicked on and off...

SUITS!!!!!!

[trowa-barton.livejournal.com]

Suits are cool.
Exhibit A