Did you ever get the impression that a bargain you purchased costs you way more than initially planned?
We all like a good bargain, but sometimes when we are shopping for bargains only, we may end up biting on more than we can chew! We know that this may end up sounding a bit peculiar, especially since we are trying to save money and have the items we desire, but believe us, sometimes not all bargains presented to us are worth it.
There are certain items that you should make sure you invest a little bit more in. Sure, it may not be the most frugal thing to do. Yet, in the long run, the frugal mindset is not about getting the cheapest things out there but rather about getting the best-priced items of high quality.
Sometimes quality is the thing you should be going for, not really the price. Sure, if you are buying items in bulk or things that are used quickly, you do not need to think about quality as much, but for the items we are going to be looking at today, you will want to get the high-quality items instead of the best-priced ones, as you may end up paying more in the long run for them!
If you do not believe us, make sure you keep on reading to discover some of the items you should never buy cheaper and why!
Have you ever bought something cheap thinking you got a bargain, only to end up spending more in the long run? Tell us your story about bargain-turned-money eater items in the comments below!
Shoes
You may think that it does not matter what brand of shoes you get or where you get them from, as long as you get some for your particular needs and that they are affordable. That is where we are going to stop you and tell you that you cannot go for bargains here.
Sure, shoes are expensive sometimes, and you do not have to go for the most expensive ones out there. However, you should not be getting the cheapest options or some unknown brand just because it is a bargain.
The point of getting good-quality shoes, even if they are not going to be the best deal out there, is because the materials may be more qualitative and you will be able to wear them for more than one year.
Cheap shoes tend to get destroyed faster; they can affect the way you walk, and if you have to get multiple pairs, you may as well get the more expensive ones and be sure you can use them longer.
Health insurance
Cheap health insurance may sound like a good idea in the moment, but this bargain will end up costing you a ton later down the road when you may need this insurance the most. The cheapest health insurance policies have some restrictive provider networks; you may need to jump through hoops in order to get to a specialist, and they have very high deductibles.
This is not the case with all health insurance, but you should make sure you read all the fine print before you sign the policy. Do not just go for the cheapest because it is a bargain; take the time to see if it is worth it too!
On the other side, some policies that come with low premiums may be the best choice for you. Despite this. You should not only get health insurance based on premiums and how much you have to pay.
Look at what is offered in it, how much you can deduct, how wide their networks are, how much you would have to pay out of pocket, how the copay looks, and any limitations on brand-name drugs that may be included.
This may lead you to have to get more expensive health insurance, but you will know that when you need care, you will get the best bang for your buck.
Paint
If you are redecorating and you want to save some money on paint, you may not be getting the bargain you want. Paint is generally not the most cheap thing in the world, but the offerings at the store seem to range from extremely affordable to extremely expensive.
While you should not go for the most expensive one out of the bat, as you may not need to do that, you should also not go for the cheapest type of paint.
This is because you can end up spending more money using cheap paint than you would if you went with a mid-option, which will cost you more upfront.
There are multiple things that can happen: with cheap paint, you may need way more coats to get the coverage you want, meaning you will need to buy more buckets of paint; it can end up looking too busy or thick due to all the layers; or it may not be as durable as you would want.
You may have to paint the entire room again next year, which means more paint and more time, wasted!
Do your research and go for a good mid-range paint that is going to have good coverage and that is friendly with your budget!
If you want to cover some cracks or holes in your wall before you paint them over, we recommend you use a drywall patch repair kit. They are easy to use and come in smaller quantities, so you do not have to pay a ton for a bucket only to use a fraction of the product. This drywall patch repair kit from Amazon is our favorite, and it is a lifesaver if you’re a renter!
Big electronics
Yes, we know that big electronics like TVs and computers are expensive items, and sometimes it may be a hassle to get to know what you are getting, but this is not one of those items that you want to bargain for.
You can look around for a good deal on a quality product, but you do not want to go for the cheap options. You want the best of both options, meaning quality and a good price!
When we look at computers (or even laptops), we do not want to go for the cheapest option, as they generally mean that they are the oldest models or that they have low-quality batteries and limited warranties.
They may only stay charged for one or two hours, or the battery may fail you soon, and you will use it just fine for a year, and then it will start causing you issues right after or downright break on you once the warranty expires. Coupled with shoddy electric work or poor-quality materials, you may have to invest more to keep the computer running than you spent to buy it.
If you barely use a computer, you can get away with a cheaper laptop. But if you intend to use it more, go for a mid-option or watch some videos about the best budget-option laptops on the market!
Likewise, with TVs, you do not want to get a cheap TV, nor should you spend a fortune on one either. You should make sure you get a TV that has a good screen and that will not rack up your electricity bill to the heavens.
Find a TV that is going to offer you the best experience for the money you spend (even if it means a couple hundred bucks more), and that comes from a brand you know and trust!
Toilet paper
Yes, we know this sounds weird, but you should not go for the cheapest TP out there for a number of things! It is a pretty testy subject, as a lot of people seem to have strong opinions about TP, but one thing is for sure: you should not look at it as a bargain item.
If you get the cheapest rolls in the biggest pack possible, you may be getting poor quality toilet paper, the type that is very thin and shreds easily, which in turn will make you want to sue for more sheets to not end up in a gross situation while you wipe.
As a result, you will go through rolls quicker, and definitely not at a rate where you would have to go buy them more often than you would like. This definitely goes against the idea of getting a bargain or saving some extra cash, so you should turn your attention to more expensive versions.
This does not mean to get the most expensive one out there, but rather that a more qualitative version will cost you more and last you longer.
Not to mention, cheap TP ends up not dissolving well, and you may end up with a huge plumbing bill on your hands if you are not careful!
Sometimes, looking for cheap options does not mean that you are going to end up having to pay more in the long run. One industry where you should always look for a bargain is when you are looking for flights for your next vacation. If you want to make sure you get the best deal for your next vacation, make sure you check out this article!
