Worth The Splurge/Not Worth The Splurge - Cheaper Than Therapy Cheaper Than Therapy

April 23 14

One of two things happen every time I buy sunglasses. The first is that they get stolen—by a certain 13-year-old who often sneakily makes off with my shirts and leggings and everything I shrink in the laundry. The second thing is that I hear that familiar sound of a child-size buttocks squishing and squashing said sunglasses.

For this reason, I refuse to invest in sunglasses that cost more than $12.

*scrunch*

I wish I was the type to buy fancy and expensive (and prescription) tortoiseshell sunglasses because, sigh, they are just so wonderful looking, but alas, no, it’s Urban Outfitters or the gas station for these eyes of mine.

I mentioned this on Twitter and it was received with mostly crickets—as Twitter is apt to do these days.

I mentioned this on Facebook and out came MY PEOPLE. There are lots of us buying bargain shades.

I buy my camisoles at Target (Merona Maternity ftw!) and I buy tons of my jewelery at Forever 21. I also am a huge fan of drug store mascara, and dollar flip flops until they destroy my feet and then I have to cover them in—Band-aid brand—band-aids. Also, I totally brew my coffee at home, by the pot. And don’t even get me started on the giant, small-person sized container of generic Kirkland brand fake Tylenol I have in my medicine cabinet—9,000 pills for one low price? Sign this saver up!

There are, of course, many things I splurge on—Jeans (100%—You should try it, your heiney will thank you for it. And as a bonus? They don’t sag in all the wrong areas like less expensive jeans so you don’t need to wash them after every wear and that makes them, uh, good for the environment?), Q-tips (the store brand is NOT worth it), good black pumps, a perfect white blouse, undergarments (Hanky Pankys only please for my bottom—although I have been known to buy a brassiere off the racks at Target but shh…don’t tell), Sharpie pens, towels, a good haircut, photography equipment, good scotch.

Also: Lululemon yoga pants which in my house are called Magic Ass Pants.

Also: Cheese.

What do you splurge on? Save on?

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Comments

I am dying to do a post like this – worth the splurge/ not worth the splurge. If I do I will link to you. I do splurge on sunglasses but I have extremely light sensitive eyes and I had LASIK surgery in 2000 so I need good quality glasses. Socks, though, I hate buying socks and I buy them as cheaply as possible. Underwear – yes. Coffee – no. (Kirkland Signature). Okay, I have to stop commenting and write a post 🙂
Comment by Nicole Boyhouse on April 23, 2014
Here is my splurge list:

• A bed — after all, you spend more of your life sleeping, you might as well be comfortable, right?
• Bed sheets — see above.
• Victoria Secret bras — I’ve found the most comfortable ones and refuse to buy cheap bras ever again (though, I’ve never heard of Hanky Panky panties, so I may have to check those out!).
• Peanut Butter (there is only Kraft).
• Tea — I’m a Davids Tea fiend. And I won’t apologize for that.
Comment by Sarah on April 23, 2014
I will warn you — once you buy Hanky Pankys…there’s no turning back. You will never wear any other underwear again.

But it’s well worth it.
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
Ha! Thanks for the warning! I may just need to test this out. My husband always makes fun of my granny panties. Might be fun to try something less bulky, so long as its comfortable.
Comment by Sarah on April 23, 2014
Also exactly NEVER any VPL.
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
Q-Tips for SURE! I learned the error of my ways with that. Also, I buy most of my face products at Target, but I can’t use the Target brand.The fake Oil of Olay from Target smells funny, so real Oil of Olay for this face!

I don’t splurge on most things. The weird things I do are like peanut butter, toilet paper, paper towels, aluminum foil, coffee.
Comment by Kristabella on April 23, 2014
Is there a way to skimp on peanut butter…like…buying store brand?

TOILET PAPER AND PAPER TOWEL for sure.
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
I splurge on sunglasses, but I take really good care of them so they last for years! I still have a pair of tortoise shell Armani and a purple Prada pair that I purchased BC (before children) and they are still good. I also splurge on purses (not to the level of LV’s but just nice leather)… I can’t stand the look of cheap leather (pleather makes me cringe). I only buy Havaianas flip flops because they don’t slip on wet surfaces but my jeans and t-shirts are all over the map. I am SUPER particular about my jewellery, I like it silver and simple – Tiffany and Links… this comment is making me sound like a twat I’m going to stop… But first, I also only buy real Q-Tips. I have a shameful Q-Tip problem actually…
Comment by Sandy on April 23, 2014
I love that our splurges are almost exactly opposite 🙂
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
Yes, but we are united in Q-Tips. 😉
Comment by Sandy on April 23, 2014
We’ll always have Q-Tips 🙂
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
Toilet paper! I must have a comfy tushy. And bread. No $1 loafs thank you. I also buy cheap sunglasses and flip flops (thank you, Old Navy). I guess I don’t actually splurge on anything, but my boys do get good shoes.
Comment by Karen on April 23, 2014
Splurge: designer sunglasses and designer handbags. Justified because I take very good care of said items. And I use them every day, every season. No splurge: jeans. Gap jeans are perfection for me, skinny, boyfriends, whichever! Hanky Panky = the only thongs I own and Victoria’s Secret. I don’t splurge on boots. Because I hate winter.
Comment by Loukia on April 23, 2014
WE are total opposites!

I splurged on a really good pair of waterproof La Canadienne boots. Best purchase I have ever made. My dry and warm feet thank me every winter. 🙂

xo
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
I love this post. I’ve written a similar post in the past and I think it’s absolutely fascinating to learn where people are willing to splurge and where they cheap out. For me? As a busty girl, I splurge on good bras (Fantasie of England model 4510), smoked salt, my haircut & color and yes, Hanky Panky underwear. Fun post!! :o)
Comment by Monica Ricci on April 23, 2014
I save on paper towels and toilet paper (Costco), undershirts for the husband (also Costco) and drugstore mascara. I splurge on food generally speaking, shoes and technology.
Comment by Daisy on April 23, 2014
I too save/splurge on many of the same things. I call it selective parsimony. If I bought expensive sunglasses, I would probably lose them as quickly as I lose the cheap ones. I will not spend money on socks either.
Comment by mara on April 23, 2014
Yes on Q-tips, toilet paper, and underwear. I just can’t wear cheapie stuff anymore, it makes me itchy (literally and figuratively). And bedsheets. And cheese. And eyelash primer (good primer = awesome eyelashes with drug store mascara). And hair cuts/color.

But, I almost always buy my sunglasses from a gas station.

xox
Comment by Feisty Harriet on April 23, 2014
I splurge on good glasses/sunglasses, but I’m neurotic about them. I’m also blind as a bat so I have to have prescription ones. I splurge on name brand jeans and shoes. Flip-flops even, I’ll buy Tevas or something nicer. But I buy cheap shirts at Old Navy. I buy expensive lotions and hand soaps, however I buy cheap ass shampoo. I buy generic medications at Costco no less, yet I’ll only buy organic name brand dairy products. Q-Tips, Charmin toilet paper, Bounty paper towels. I am a HUGE Starbucks brat…however I now buy their K-Cups for my Keurig.
Comment by Issa on April 23, 2014
I used to buy really cheap shampoo…whatever…my hair always looked the same. and then my hair got gross—water damage or sun damage or something and I bought Live Clean clarifying shampoo. Not super expensive, but not cheap either…and now I can’t use anything else.
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
I LOVE Hanky Pankies and have probably 20 pairs – BUT, Old Navy does a killer Hanky Pankie knock-off too. I also love Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara above all others and have been known to spend more on my lunch during a day of shopping than a pair of jeans (ahem ahem, $7 skinnies at forever 21 in Buffalo). President’s Choice and Joe Fresh make lots of stuff not worth the splurge.
Comment by babefromtheburbs on April 23, 2014
I think because I buy the low-rise petites, the knock-offs don’t fit me right, since they fit more like the regular fit ones.
Comment by ali on April 23, 2014
Splurge on good cheese and good bacon…oh and good chocolate..splurge on good tequila…and On those QTips..I use MANY..for everything…and I won’t spend over 15$ on sunglasses.. My last pair were 4$ at Forever 21 and I LUV them..still no crunch!
Comment by Dee Brun on April 23, 2014
Oh, how I love a good deal. I’m a very particular spender — I save on sunglasses, but splurge on shoes. Save on kids’ clothes but splurge on name-brand food items.
Comment by alex on April 23, 2014
I never thought I’d be the type to pay $30 for a piece of underwear, then I slipped into my first pair of Hanky Panky hipsters and was SOLD.
Comment by Camels & Chocolate on April 23, 2014
OMG I’m learning so much on this comments thread! LOL… This is the first I’m hearing about EYELASH primer! I think I need this. I also need to check out the Old Navy Hanky Panky knockoffs! :o)
Comment by Monica Ricci on April 23, 2014
My favorite is Clinique brand, it is ahh-maaaahhhh-zing.

xox
Comment by Feisty Harriet on April 23, 2014
The only thing I currently splurge on is dog food. How boring.
Comment by Alison on April 23, 2014
My thing is bags. Bags, totes, purses, satchels… I love ’em.
Comment by Chantal on April 27, 2014
[…] I have pulled out my favorite $12 sunglasses. […]
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