10 Things You Thought Were Cheap But Really Aren’t

Ever heard the phrase “penny wise and pound foolish”?

It’s important to not only look at the price tag on the items we buy, but to also think about durability, need, costs of ownership and more before parting with our hard earned cash.

It’s only a bargain if you need it and does the entire job you need it to do, while the costs of ownership or consumption do nothing to make the item unaffordable.

 This list is based on my own experiences, yours might differ, but the important thing is to look at the entire cost, including the cost of your time, before you make the purchasing decisions.

1. Cheap School Supplies

I find that as a general rule, the name brand school supplies are much higher quality than store/off brand equivalents. The frustration and poorer results that my children and I face when we use lower quality school supplies is not worth saving a few dollars.

 One way I do save is to look for sales and stock up when I can. I am also doing my best to teach my children to be responsible with their school supplies so that we get the full use out of what we do buy and eliminate unneeded waste.

2. Cheap batteries

I’m not just talking about those no name batteries from the dollar store, but depending on what you’re using them for, it can be worth it to pay for the top of the line name brand batteries instead of the cheaper versions. They last longer, which not only means more time before you have to replace them, but less hazardous waste that you have to dispose of properly as well as the time required to run out and get batteries at the last minute.

 Of course, cheaper batteries are still fine for things that use very little juice, like TV remote controls but be wary of brands you never heard of. They are no bargain if they leak and ruin your equipment!

3. Cheap dog food

High quality dog food is expensive and it can be tempting to try out the cheaper brands. Some dogs do have hearty digestive systems and won’t get acutely sick from lower quality foods. However, because they are mostly cheap filler ingredients like corn it will take far more food for your dog to feel satisfied.

Additionally, a low quality diet can lead to bigger vet bills in the future. It’s worth it to spend a bit more and get the higher quality pet foods for that four legged member of your family.

 Note: this doesn’t mean your pet will necessarily need the most expensive, fanciest foods. Talk to your vet to get recommendations and let your dog’s physical condition be your guide.

4. Cheap cookware

A good quality set of cookware can set you back several hundred dollars; however they are likely to last you a lifetime. Contrast that with super inexpensive cookware that you might get at a dollar store or discounter. They are simply not as durable and they can be far more difficult to cook with, as they are prone to hot spots and don’t retain heat nearly as well. Not only will you be replacing them soon, but you might very well find yourself throwing out a lot of burned food.

An exception is Teflon coated nonstick cookware. You still don’t want to get the bargain basement versions which will be horrendously low quality; however a moderately priced pan from a reputable brand is fine. Even more expensive brands of Teflon nonstick will eventually wear out.

A good way to save on cookware is to look for open stock pieces from highly reputable brands on sale or clearance. Cast iron cookware is also very good quality and reasonably priced, but does require much more maintenance than stainless steel.

5. Cheap socks

Again, no need to get socks hand knit from alpaca chin hairs, but super cheap socks not only feel lousy but get holes, worn patches and the elastic gives out much more quickly. Better to spend a couple of dollars more for socks that last 5 times as long and feel good on your feet.

6. Cheap tools

If you are only going to need a tool once or twice, it’s better to see if you can borrow one rather than spend even one dollar on a piece of junk that will almost immediately wind up in the landfill. For tools that you’ll need on a consistent basis, do your research and look for quality as priority number one. If you take care of your tools and keep them well organized you’ll find that they quickly pay off the initial investment.

7. Cheap or free introductory offers

These are tempting, but I can’t be the only one who has forgotten to cancel. Many times it’s far harder to cancel than it was to sign up and you find yourself putting it off until you see that charge on your credit card. People who are more organized might benefit from these deals. But for most of us, it’s best to just say no thanks.

8. Cheap online auctions

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of shipping before you make your bid or you can find yourself unpleasantly surprised. Many sellers aren’t even padding the shipping; it’s just inherently expensive to mail things around the country. It’s easy to get carried away and not think that you can be easily double or triple the price you are paying when you consider shipping.

9. Cheap fast food

Dollar menus can stretch $3 into an entire meal; it seems very hard to beat that at home. However, with some planning, you can eat better foods for less money. Eating fast food too much can have severe effects on your long term health and while $3 doesn’t seem like that much one time, you’ll find that it soon adds up. Learn to spend wisely at the grocery store and cook ahead so that you can have tasty, quick meals for less than the dollar menu per serving.

10. Cheap cleaning products

It seems that almost all of these don’t do an especially effective job cleaning, meaning you’ll need to use even more and still might not get the same results as you would with the name brand. Fortunately, you can use household white vinegar and baking soda to tackle most cleaning jobs around the house for even less than what the bargain cleaning products cost.

 If you’d prefer to use commercial products, you can use far less of many of the name brand products and still get good results. I routinely use less than half of the recommended amount of laundry detergent and cut dryer sheets in half and still get fresh, clean, soft clothes.

It’s a cliché, but it’s worth it to spend a bit more for quality where it counts and can be cheaper in the long run to boot. What do you find to be false bargains or worth spending a bit extra on?

Tracy O’Connor is the mother of 5 boys and a ghostwriter who knows how to make every cent count. Follow her on Twitter.

photo credit ©istock/FreezeFrameStudio