5 Things to Splurge On When you Live on a Fixed Income
Quality vs Price is an age-old comparison. There are many ways to look at spending. Most purchases in my home have been designed around purchasing items at the best price. But, there are some things that are worth the extra expense even when you live on a fixed income.
How many times have I heard the phrase, you get what you paid for? It seems that you hear it most when you buy a cheap item and it breaks quickly or doesn’t do a good job. Over the years, I’ve learned that some purchases are just as good when they’re cheap and some things are not.
When you don’t have a penny to spend, then it’s best to buy nothing. When you have a little to spend, buy something cheap. But, when you’re buying something for the first time you should weigh the costs…..short term and long term.
Small Kitchen Appliances
How many kitchen mixers have I gone through in my lifetime? I should have counted. I know that it is an embarrassing number. I always got the cheapest one, and they never lasted long. You know the familiar smell of a small motor burning up? Yeah. Me, too. I should have saved up and bought a heavy-duty mixer early in my marriage.
Blenders are another problem appliance. The pile of discarded blenders has been too high. I bought a VitaMix (top of the line) a few years ago, and it’s still crunching up everything in sight. This was a worthwhile purchase.
Windshield Wipers
Oh, the misery and danger of cheap windshield wipers! Snapping on a new pair of bottom-of-the-barrel priced windshield wipers felt good at first. But, then when you head out on a trip and drive into a torrential downpour you quickly realize how big your mistake has been.
Many top-quality windshield wipers can be found on sale, but even without a sale, the clean windshield is worth it. And, cheap ones will break down quickly even if they do a fairly good job of wiping rain off of your windshield.
Mattresses
We spend much of our life in bed so where we sleep will determine many things: how well we sleep, our comfort, and how our back and neck will be affected. When I was a young child, my mattress was very old and soft. I loved how I sunk down in the center and felt comfy. But, it really did a number on my back.
I developed Scoliosis and will deal with it’s life-long misery until I die. When I began married life, we purchased an expensive mattress that offered wonderful support and it lasted for 25 years. It survived a lot: pregnancies, babies and toddlers in and out, and little ones later jumping on the bed. A good mattress is important!
Hand-held Tools
Now, I’m not good with tools. You can ask my dad and husband if I can hammer a nail…..and they’ll just laugh. That’s fine with me, because hubby is very good with tools. He inherited a huge collection from his dad. Over the years, his DIY lifestyle was the reason for many, many tool purchases.
The good quality tools are still in great shape and have been passed down to our son. But, the cheap tools from low-priced stores didn’t last at all. Everyone needs a few basic hand tools. Make sure you get ones that will last.
Sheets
Sheets have gotten so expensive! There are vast selections of cheap sheets out there. They’re very pretty and I have purchased quite a few sets myself. Unfortunately, they all have shrunk and will no longer fit the mattress. This is especially true when you have a pillow-top mattress.
Being able to buy sheets that won’t shrink is not easy. I may need to save for a while before I can buy a good quality set. If you’re just starting out, this is something to add to your wish list. Hopefully, you will be gifted wonderful sheets.
Cell Phone
Cell phones are so confusing! Since the time when average people were able to buy cell phones, there has been a huge growth in the range of prices that are available. Cell phones have increased in size, quality, and features. And, of course, they have grown in price.
In the old flip-phone days, it was easy to just buy a phone and talk on it. As the cell phone industry grew, there were tons of options: contracts, smart phones, and features galore. We all became very dependent on our phones and what they could do for us.
As start-up companies drew us in, the dirt-cheap prices were very attractive. We tried many different regional carriers, which seemed to offer good quality service. Then, we tried a small carrier. Republic Wireless offered great service in it’s early days. As it grew more complicated, the quality went down.
We now spend more than we want to, but at least we can talk and hear the other person clearly. We are with a major network and have a decent smart-phone. iPhone users swear by their phones, and I know that they’re wonderful, but I can make do without that upper-tier price point.
The important thing to remember about quality is that everyone has an opinion and a tolerance for risk. For me, I’ve been willing to make some cheap product purchases at least once, to see if the product will be adequate. Other people pick quality the very first time. We all have the choice to make.
Quality vs Price….it’s a question we can keep asking ourselves. Do your research and see if Google can help you make wise purchasing choices. You’ll end up saving money in the long term.
@2020, copyright Lisa Ehrman
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- Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.
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Well, this just confirmed my decision on getting a new mattress! 🙂
Yay! Hope you find the perfect mattress for you 🙂
thanks for the tips
Glad that they were helpful!!
Quality is very important at any age! Thanks for sharing these tips!
Right 🙂
thanks I totally agree quality is very important no use buying junk and having to replace it
Thanks, Wendy!!!
Yes, quality over price, especially when choosing a mattress.
Yes, so important for health.
I definitely agree about mattresses. A bad mattress will make your life a misery. Buy the best you can afford.
Thanks, Tamra. 🙂
I won some bamboo sheets and they are the best. Soft and long lasting.
Oh, nice! I’ve always wanted to try those 🙂
I have to strongly agree with you on the windshield washer blades, I thought that I would buy the cheapest one’s because I hardly ever used them throughout the year, well, that was the biggest mistake that I ever did with trying to save a buck especially on something that is really important to have on your vehicle during those times that you really need them and depend on them to work and make it so you can see out of your windshield and safely drive your car during not only rain but snow storms as well and the second time that I had to use these bargain wipers that I just had to buy for next to nothing the rubber just crumbled away and it was almost impossible to see to drive during this rain storm that I was right in the middle of but thank goodness that it did not end in a lesson learned that ended with me or someone else getting hurt as I made it home safely, and now I tell everyone to spend the extra money on wiper blades because in the long run they will pay for themselves by lasting for years as well as they well get you thru those bad storms that all of us have to drive thru from time to time and to do it safely out ways all the reasons to save money with buying the cheap wipers, Lesson learned the hard way for me!
Oh, I know what you mean! It’s good that you didn’t have a wreck. I’m always thankful to get out of those messes in one piece. It really can be dangerous to not have windshield wipers that work well.
The mattresses and sheets make a lot of sense. We do spend an awful lot of time using those.
Yes, and we can tell the difference in quality.
Some great items on the list. I think the mattress one is so true as that better sleep is a life quality changer
Yes, we all need better sleep.
It’s a good idea to invest in some things you use everyday and actually need. Worth it to spend a bit more on those, you’re right.
Yes, the quality products can save you money in the long run. 🙂
I have to agree that good quality sheets and mattresses will be a good investment for the long haul of having a fixed income. I know that as a disabled woman, I spend many hours in bed and the quality of the mattress and sheets matters. The support and feel of each is definitely appreciated when I am not feeling so well. Thank you for the other tips as well.
I know what you mean. I have chronic illnesses and have spent much of my time lying down. Mattresses, especially need to suit your back’s needs so that you won’t get additional back pain on top of everything else. Thanks for sharing:)
These are good splurges for anyone on a low income. .
Thanks, Debbie 🙂
a good mattress makes all the difference in the world
Yes!! This is all so true and smart!! Mattress is a biggie for me! They are expensive but they last awhile and sleep is so vital for many important aspects of your life! Thanks for once again sharing your wisdom!!
Since my household is larger now, I have learned that I can’t just buy what I want. I have to make wiser choices.Some things I refuse to buy if I can’t find them at a cheap price. At the same time I will invest more money in needed household appliances w/ warranties.
It’s good to hold out for a great deal 🙂
It was surprising to me how much difference having good windshield wipers make.
very insightful ideas.
I couldn’t agree more that there are definitely things that are worth spending more on. The number one for me is a mattress! We spend a lot of time on it and a good night’s sleep is so important.
Yep. I splurge on Cell phone, Mattress/bed, car. Other items tend to fall by wayside on weather they are necessary or if I’ve earned them from setting goals.