Reese

So, with the economy sucking, I figured I'd make a thread where we could work together and get our priorities straight. What items can we buy cheap and what items just make sense to buy quality.

First, I'd say generic drugs over brand names. It's a no-brainer.

For Quality, I'd say toilet tissue. The cheap stuff may be half the price but you're using twice as much.. Unless you're Sheryl Crow..

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Bill O'Rights

As far as durable goods go, if you plan using an item on a fairly regular basis, always buy the best quality that you can afford. If I've learned anything in 47 years, it's that the only time I regret buying a higher priced, higher quality item is at the checkout. After I get over that initial "But...this one's so much cheaper!" syndrome, the quality will almost always outweigh the price.

I have discovered that even though I detest Walmart, I actually prefer their store brand coffee to the much more expensive name brands. Really. I never would've believed it myself, but that is some damned good coffee.

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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

telekinetic

Always have a good office chair, bed, couch, and shoes. If you're not in one, you're probably in one of the others.

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helleke

the soaring prices make me some troubles...
it so terrible....
I hope it goes hurry.

Bill O'Rights

Excellent point, twistedmosaic. Never, ever, ever skimp when it comes to shoes or your bed. Well, not every pair of shoes has to cost an arm and a leg, but the pair that you wear the most should cost the most.

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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

Redlemon

Plastic wrap. It is impossible to get cheap wrap off of the roll without getting it stuck to itself.
Why is this a no-brainer? The active ingredients are identical. Sometimes, the inactive ingredients may cause a different drug absorption rate, but there are certainly generics that work just as well.

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telekinetic

Umm...it's a no-brainer for exactly the reasons you just listed? Did you misunderstand him?

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twisted no more

Plan9

Don't buy cheap mattresses. You spend a ~1/3 of your life on one.

Go for the $3600 memory foam mattress. It'll change your life.

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Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

Jinn

Beds and couches, because I spent at least 8 hours between the two every day.

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grumpyolddude

Life is too short to drink cheap beer!

I'm troubled when I see folks buying the absolute cheapest brakes and suspension products they can find, without regard for quality. Skimp on things that don't jeopardize your family's safety!

Also, another vote for quality furniture and footwear

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ametc

Pens. I absolutely despise the moment where my cheap ass generic brand pen would not write a single word anymore. There was still TONS of ink and the ball was moving, so I dunno what the hell that pen's problem was. In nursing, your pen.. is pretty much your best friend.


Headphones. I have used cheap headphones and I have used expensive headphones. Both of them break eventually, but the slightly more expensive ones last wayyyyyyy longer.



Non-slip comfy nursing/walking shoes. The non-slip is VITAL. I bought non-slip shit from Wal-Mart for 20 bucks. That shit was NOT non-slip. Those shoes definitely had no protection against puddles of piss and working with someone in the shower involved lots of gentle steps. My mom has some 60 dollar nursing shoes/walking shoes. They are totally non-slip and are comfy as hell.

biznatch

Headphones are a big one for me too. I don't think I can go back to earbud style headphones. I find circumaural designs are nice, earbuds make the music sound like it's coming from inside my head.

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Manic_Skafe

If you're a guy who regularly shaves then either shell out the cash for a good straight razor or at least pick up a cheap one with disposable blades. I'm amazed at how much disposable and replaceable head razors go for when compared to the yearly cost of owning a straight razor.

Sure you'll get nicked and it takes a bit longer but you'll also have a much better shave that lasts longer and costs you a hell of a lot less. The Art of Shaving is a good place to start.

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ratbastid

Seconded hardcore. And it only took me 35 years to learn that! :P

clavus

Sure, for things like aspirin. Think twice about complex, bio-manufactured pharms.

People say "the active ingredients are the same." Would you apply that argument to other things you stick in your body? Drink a pint of Guinness pulled in a pub, or suck the moisture out of a hobo's beard? The active ingredients are same.

Oh, no, you say. "The FDA regulates this stuff." They do... as much as the FDA can regulate overseas manufacturing in places where they put poison in kid's milk to make an extra ten cents per gallon.

Just my two cents from a guy who is close enough to the industry to be paranoid.

---------- Post added at 07:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:39 PM ----------

Quality: Dish washing detergent. I found that the expensive stuff cleans a LOT more dishes than the cheap stuff.

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MSD

Best $20 I've ever spent was doing this
http://www.instructables.com/id/Save-$200-in-2-minutes-and-have-the-worlds-best-wr/

Trim 1/8" off a Mont Blanc ballpoint refill and it fits right into the Pilot G2. It's one of those things where you won't believe the difference, or even that there is a difference, until you try a really good pen.
In what way are you close enough to the industry to be paranoid? I've never had a problem with generics and the ones I get are manufactured by the same companies as the name brands.

mixedmedia

Ladies and gentlemen,

Never, never skimp on stockings.

Everything else can be acquired on discount or at the thrift store.

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ratbastid

Also, $2/lb shellfish from a guy on the corner at the beach?

All in all, I've had better nights.

clavus

I agree 100% about good pens. There's a huge difference.
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My wife and some friends work for biotech companies. It is absolutely unbelieveable how much care (and expense) goes into manufacturing bio-meds. They are not compiled by mixing chemicals. They are grown by living things and processed and refined. It's an incredibly intricate process.

Like I said, aspirin - OK. But if I had cancer, I'd want the real deal. Not something made in China that is "supposed" to be jut as good.

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dippin

The standards for generic drugs are not any lower than for brand name drugs. And brand name drugs are just as likely to be produced abroad as generics.

In fact, I have never come across a single study that found any difference in outcomes between generics and brand name.

More importantly:

Worried about generics?

"From 2004 through 2008, for example, generic drug companies received slightly fewer FDA "warning letters" about problems complying with good manufacturing practices than did brand-name ones, according the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), a trade group based in Arlington, Va. That's particularly notable, since there are far more generic than brand-name drugs on the market. "

spindles

Tyres - don't forget tyres!

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dippin

Forgot a biggie, especially as it relates to people who use computers frequently like us: hard drives.

Besides quality, hds from better companies will usually have better warranty and customer service.

Martian

It's fun to compare the perceived vs actual relationship between quality and price.

Which is really what this thread is about, I guess.

Sometimes more expensive does mean better, but I would never assume it to be true.

Really I think it breaks down as any big ticket items are worth buying quality, even when it costs more. Disposable or cheap items are less so. Cars and furniture, be discerning.

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I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
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mykockle

Cheap: HDMI cables... buying $60 monster cables is SUCH BS! Buy some cheap-o $5-7 ones off of newegg or something. I PROMISE you'll see no difference

Quality: REAL Converse Chuck Taylors. For the love of all that is holy, skip the look-a-likes... oh god... please!!

MSD

Oh, specifically bio manufacturing? I'll accept that. At the very least, I'd want something that's been proven by the manufacturer, made using the same equipment used to produce whatever I'm taking.
If a cable is available at HDMI Cable, Home Theater Accessories, HDMI Products, Cables, Adapters, Video/Audio Switch, Networking, USB, Firewire, Printer Toner, and more! and you buy it anywhere else, you are a sucker and I will find you, point at you, and laugh at you. I say this as a pro A/V guy. The only thing Monster has going for them is their no-questions-asked warranty. Someone left a guitar cable behind after a performance, I gave it to my brother, and he's on his 2nd replacement just due to use.

Zeraph

If I'm going to use it for a long time I always go one step down from the best quality. Seems to be a generally good rule of thumb to get the best bang for the buck.

FuglyStick

don't skimp on hookers. if she isn't an 8 or better, you might as well beat off.

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noodle

When the impact of the quality matters.

e.g. safety, comfort, the impact on your happiness/quality of life/loved ones.

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Lasereth

Oddly enough the only thing I can think of right are water hoses. If you're ever in the market for any type of water hose, buy a quality no-kink hose, not the $8 hoses. You'll thank me later.

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Poppinjay

Go with a cheap bed. Yeah, you spend about eight hours a night on it, but you're unconscious.

Target generic polos are ten times better and much cheaper than Macy's generic polos.

When it comes to marriage, you absolutely must sock away a year's salary to spend on a mid-life crisis.

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yournamehere

Not necessarily. I'm not exactly sure of the exact number - and I'm too lazy to Google it right now, but generic drugs are required to stick to something like 90% of the original formula. While it's true that in many cases, generics and brand names are identical, it's not a no-brainer. My wife has taken thyroid medication for a year now, and recently switched pharmacies (which bought from a different manufacturer) - the newer generic had her climbing the walls - very different potency or absorption rate.

Also, she's a chronic pain patient, and back before she quit all narcotics, she used to get a generic Percocet called roxicet, which worked well. A generic called oxycodone, which is supposedly the same thing, didn't work at all.

I'll agree with all the bed comments.

I'd say buy cheap kids' clothes - they'll grow out of them before they wear out.

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flat5

I've been wearing the same pair of shoes for over three years.
They have insoles because of trouble with my feet.
I buy my shoes at a low price store. They cost me 32 Euros.

YaWhateva

Roxicet is oxycodone and acitominophen. Oxycodone is the active drug in Percocet. There is a difference between just oxycodone and oxycodone with acitominophen.

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ametc

OH. Socks. I hate synthetic socks. I prefer all natural socks because they breathe wayyyyy better. Good socks aren't that expensive at all, either.


Purses. I bought a cheap ass purse that was priced way more than it was worth and the handles broke on me while I was using it. Target purses are alright quality.. but Walmart purses always break on me. Designer purses have never broken on me.

snowy

This is going to sound strange, but rubber gloves. No, seriously--the Playtex brand gloves last far longer than any store-brand rubber glove I've tried. I've been using the same pair of these gloves for a few months now: They've definitely stood up to a lot, and I like how long they are. Worth every penny.

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thirdsun

If it's something you are going to use to make your living or otherwise supplement your income in some way, don't skimp. Better to invest in quality equipment or tools or software than to go on the cheap and have something that is constantly breaking down or having to be replaced, especially when a job or contract might depend it.

filtherton

If you're going to ride you bicycle a lot, don't skimp on the saddle. Especially for gents.

cheese

Bed, sleeping on a 1300 sealy Euro perfectrest pillow top.. its amazing..

Sheets. 600 thread count at least. not to spendy about 70 at target for a queen set.

Pillows. Man a good latex foam pillow. my wife had one and i always thought it was dumb, then i relised every morning i work up with it under my head and my polyfluff pillow cast aside. i bought one changed my life.

Underwear. Honstley i use to be a $9 3 pack hanes boxers kinda guy. then on a whim i bought $20 3 pack of jockeys. Love em, although its not hard to get me outta them :P

Redlemon

Screw thread count. Get modal sheets. Modal sheets will change your life. Look at Ratbastid; he got modal sheets, now he has two wives!

Seriously, though. Modal sheets are like a gentle, cool hug all over your body. I use these: Bed Bath & Beyond - Pure Beech® Sateen Sheet Set, 100% Modal, 250 Thread Count. We've had the plum color for a couple of years, it still holds the color.

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snowy

We had the same pair of sheets (but in camel), but they wore out in about four months. They just couldn't stand up to my SO's constant tossing and turning. I liked how comfy they were, but they just didn't last the way good cotton sheets do, and I'm not going to pay $80 to replace just the fitted sheet every 4 months.

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