the value of things
Mar. 15th, 2011 12:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sarea
I've bought myself a bread machine. I don't need a bread machine. I don't have space for a bread machine. I don't how often I will actually use this bread machine. I don't even particularly love bread machine bread (because they make the soft loaves, and I love hard, crusty artisan bread). BUT I have this bread machine. Why? Two reasons. 1) It was $25. (Bought it from someone who works at my company.) And 2) It's a kitchen doodad, and I love and want all kitchen doodads. It's a sickness. I've never used a bread machine before, but it seems amazing to me that it makes bread as if by magic! This machine -- a Welbilt ABM7500 -- did not come with a manual, so I've found something online for a model that seems similar and am just going to use that. It's just the appliance and like, a bucket. Can you really make bread from start to finish with that? /doubtful
As I've gotten older I feel like I'm (finally) getting wiser about how I spend my money. WisER, not wise. I won't deny that there are many ways in which I spend 'irresponsibly.' What I've really started to realize is that it's not about how much I spend, it's about whether the things I spend money on are worth it. There ARE some things worth paying extra for, and some things that are all hype. Here are some of mine. Your mileage, of course, may vary. I've limited myself to 5 items in each category because I could go on and on.
I should also note that this is all about "stuff." It's not about organic food or traveling or anything like that. It's just about the "stuff" that we all buy -- or think about buying -- from time to time.
These are things that I just kind of went around buying from Wal-Mart, or Target, or wherever, never once considering that there were other options out there, just not being sold at these places. And it turns out I was missing out. Fair warning, this is probably a really random list.
1) Hair dryer: Elchim Professional Hair Dryer - $100. SO much better than your regular hair dryer, especially if you have long hair like me. It's super powerful and dries my hair much faster than a normal dryer, without making me feel like I am burning off my scalp. There are various settings instead of just one or two, and I actually use them. No wonder when I get my hair cut, the stylist can seem to blow dry and style in half the time! Apparently professional salons will sometimes sell their used hair dryers, so you don't have to pay the new price. I was too lazy to call around though.
2) Knives: Sha Ra Ku Mono - $80-150. OhmyGOD what a huge difference this made in my cooking. Or rather, my enjoyment of cooking. A good knife is THE most important tool you can have in your kitchen (if you cook at all). I'd heard professional chefs say this on TV for years but never believed it. I had a knife; it chopped things; what's the difference? Time. And ease. And safety. And TIME. Oh, I said that already. My favorite knives are Sha Ra Ku Mono, but the only place in the United States that imports them is Seattle Cutlery in Pike Place Market. They're super sharp, ultra lightweight, and feel like an extension of my arm/hand. If you don't live in Seattle, all is not lost. The designer is Komin Yamada, who was also behind the design of GLOBAL knives, and they're widely available. I have a Global G7, myself. Or if you're not into Japanese knives -- some people like more heft -- go for excellent German lines like Wusthof or Henckels. It's all about your personal taste... I didn't like my Henckels knife and gave it to my mom.
3) Shower cap: Blow: The Perfect Shower Cap - $18. I know, WTF, $18 for ONE shower cap when I can get 3 regular ones for $2?? That probably isn't worth it for most people. Again, I go back to my long hair. There's a bunch of it to knot up and put under a shower cap. And after a couple months of this, the elastic gets stretched out, creating big gaps where water can seep in. And I hate, hate, HATE partially soaked hair. I could blow dry it, but why should I have to take the time to do that? I might as well go ahead and wash my hair, then! A shower cap should do what it's intended to do, and keep water out, while lasting more than a month or two. That's where Blow comes in. It's small and tight (it's not "oversized" as it claims), and best of all, it's lined with 100% terry cloth, so water/steam has no chance. My hair is completely dry after I shower with this on.
4) Dishwashing gloves: Casabella Premium Water Stop Gloves - $6-10/pair. I've talked about this before. Maybe it's just me. I don't know what I do when I'm washing dishes, but with regular dishwashing gloves, within a month, a hole will inevitably develop, usually on one of the fingers. Then water gets in and soon my hands are moist and smelly and EW. Yeah, the regular gloves are like 3 pairs for $1 or something ridiculous like that. But they're flimsy. Given how often I had to replace them (even one glove at a time, because it's not like both gloves would develop holes at the same time), it's not actually any cheaper for me to get those instead of Casabella (plus all the waste from me throwing them away is bad for the environment). In fact, in the long run, my Casabella gloves may end up costing me LESS. I bought several pairs of these gloves (didn't know at the time how well they'd work out) in June 2010. I am still on my first pair. They're thicker and much more durable. And they're PINK!
5) Jeans: 7 for All Mankind - $125-175. Yes, it seems insane to pay that much for a pair of jeans when you can get a pair of GAP jeans on sale for like $20. But those jeans do NOT make me look AWESOME. There's something about 7 jeans (on me). They may not be for everyone. There are a lot of premium jeans out there. I can't vouch for any but 7s. I've tried others. They just look like regular jeans on me and if I paid that much for them it would solely be for the label. Whereas 7 jeans actually make me look fabulous. And that's worth the extra bucks.
Okay, now here's my list of things that I've purchased, where I paid extra money for the brand or the rumored awesomeness or whatever, and it turned out to only be hype.
1) Le Creuset cookware - $230-300 for a Dutch oven. Look, I love my Le Creuset pieces. I purchased a set and it cost me a pretty penny. But was it worth it? Probably not. Prior to getting the set, I'd been using an enameled cast iron Dutch oven by Lodge. It worked just as well as any of my Le Creuset enameled cast iron piece ever has. Maybe after decades of use I might be able to tell a difference? Maybe? But when you consider that my Lodge enameled Dutch oven cost $60 and the Le Creuset costs four times that, well... it wasn't the best money I've ever spent.
2) Viking food processor - $335. I'd heard sooooo much about Viking and wasn't really thrilled with my Hamilton Beach food processor, because it wasn't as smooth, quiet and effortless as the ones the pros use on TV. Well, the Viking is nice. But when I need to use a food processor, guess what I use? That's right, my Hamilton Beach, which cost a tenth -- if that -- of the Viking. Why? Not because it does a better job. But it does pretty much the same job, and it's lightweight and convenient, whereas the Viking is heavy as hell. If I wanted an upgrade, I probably should have gone with something in between the two, like a KitchenAid.
3) Fancy soaps, like those from LUSH Cosmetics - $5-8/bar. It pains me to say this, because I went through a big LUSH phase and still, in my heart of hearts, have a soft spot for it. But intellectually, I know that most of their stuff isn't worth the money. Do they use ingredients that you'd rather eat than lather with? Yes. Do they have incredibly gifted marketers? Yes. That's how they can make people pay for 1 bar of soap what it would cost to buy a dozen somewhere else. I'm not saying it's not worthwhile to buy nice cosmetics, things that are made with care and organic materials and are good for your body. But there's such a thing as value, and LUSH does not provide that, imho.
4) Manolo Blahnik shoes - $500-1,000. Yes, I have a pair -- they were purchased off eBay so no, I didn't pay full price for them. I think I paid half. But still, a very freaking expensive pair of shoes. And disappointingly, they didn't turn me into Carrie Bradshaw. I suppose, to be fair, it also depends on the pair you buy. But unless you're fabulously wealthy, could it ever really be worthwhile, at that price point??
5) Most of my books. Okay, this doesn't really fit in the category but I think it's worth calling out. I love books and I love reading, but there is no reason I should have bought 90% of the books I have. They take up space, they're heavy (just ask Jade and Robbie), and nearly all of them are freely available at the library. There are very few books in my collection that I would need to have immediately available should I desire to read them again. And despite most of them being from Half Price Books, the cost of all these books -- both in purchasing them and in having to find space for them -- isn't actually worth it. I'm actively trying to cull what I have down, and sell or donate the rest. The books I'm allowed to keep are 1) cookbooks, which often need to be pulled out again and again; 2) books I actively read over and over; and 3) my absolute favorites. It's a hard process and a slippery slope, but I think I'm doing decently well so far.
mynuet has tagged me to do a meme! I think I shall save that for tomorrow, since I've rambled on enough in this post.
As I've gotten older I feel like I'm (finally) getting wiser about how I spend my money. WisER, not wise. I won't deny that there are many ways in which I spend 'irresponsibly.' What I've really started to realize is that it's not about how much I spend, it's about whether the things I spend money on are worth it. There ARE some things worth paying extra for, and some things that are all hype. Here are some of mine. Your mileage, of course, may vary. I've limited myself to 5 items in each category because I could go on and on.
I should also note that this is all about "stuff." It's not about organic food or traveling or anything like that. It's just about the "stuff" that we all buy -- or think about buying -- from time to time.
These are things that I just kind of went around buying from Wal-Mart, or Target, or wherever, never once considering that there were other options out there, just not being sold at these places. And it turns out I was missing out. Fair warning, this is probably a really random list.
1) Hair dryer: Elchim Professional Hair Dryer - $100. SO much better than your regular hair dryer, especially if you have long hair like me. It's super powerful and dries my hair much faster than a normal dryer, without making me feel like I am burning off my scalp. There are various settings instead of just one or two, and I actually use them. No wonder when I get my hair cut, the stylist can seem to blow dry and style in half the time! Apparently professional salons will sometimes sell their used hair dryers, so you don't have to pay the new price. I was too lazy to call around though.
2) Knives: Sha Ra Ku Mono - $80-150. OhmyGOD what a huge difference this made in my cooking. Or rather, my enjoyment of cooking. A good knife is THE most important tool you can have in your kitchen (if you cook at all). I'd heard professional chefs say this on TV for years but never believed it. I had a knife; it chopped things; what's the difference? Time. And ease. And safety. And TIME. Oh, I said that already. My favorite knives are Sha Ra Ku Mono, but the only place in the United States that imports them is Seattle Cutlery in Pike Place Market. They're super sharp, ultra lightweight, and feel like an extension of my arm/hand. If you don't live in Seattle, all is not lost. The designer is Komin Yamada, who was also behind the design of GLOBAL knives, and they're widely available. I have a Global G7, myself. Or if you're not into Japanese knives -- some people like more heft -- go for excellent German lines like Wusthof or Henckels. It's all about your personal taste... I didn't like my Henckels knife and gave it to my mom.
3) Shower cap: Blow: The Perfect Shower Cap - $18. I know, WTF, $18 for ONE shower cap when I can get 3 regular ones for $2?? That probably isn't worth it for most people. Again, I go back to my long hair. There's a bunch of it to knot up and put under a shower cap. And after a couple months of this, the elastic gets stretched out, creating big gaps where water can seep in. And I hate, hate, HATE partially soaked hair. I could blow dry it, but why should I have to take the time to do that? I might as well go ahead and wash my hair, then! A shower cap should do what it's intended to do, and keep water out, while lasting more than a month or two. That's where Blow comes in. It's small and tight (it's not "oversized" as it claims), and best of all, it's lined with 100% terry cloth, so water/steam has no chance. My hair is completely dry after I shower with this on.
4) Dishwashing gloves: Casabella Premium Water Stop Gloves - $6-10/pair. I've talked about this before. Maybe it's just me. I don't know what I do when I'm washing dishes, but with regular dishwashing gloves, within a month, a hole will inevitably develop, usually on one of the fingers. Then water gets in and soon my hands are moist and smelly and EW. Yeah, the regular gloves are like 3 pairs for $1 or something ridiculous like that. But they're flimsy. Given how often I had to replace them (even one glove at a time, because it's not like both gloves would develop holes at the same time), it's not actually any cheaper for me to get those instead of Casabella (plus all the waste from me throwing them away is bad for the environment). In fact, in the long run, my Casabella gloves may end up costing me LESS. I bought several pairs of these gloves (didn't know at the time how well they'd work out) in June 2010. I am still on my first pair. They're thicker and much more durable. And they're PINK!
5) Jeans: 7 for All Mankind - $125-175. Yes, it seems insane to pay that much for a pair of jeans when you can get a pair of GAP jeans on sale for like $20. But those jeans do NOT make me look AWESOME. There's something about 7 jeans (on me). They may not be for everyone. There are a lot of premium jeans out there. I can't vouch for any but 7s. I've tried others. They just look like regular jeans on me and if I paid that much for them it would solely be for the label. Whereas 7 jeans actually make me look fabulous. And that's worth the extra bucks.
Okay, now here's my list of things that I've purchased, where I paid extra money for the brand or the rumored awesomeness or whatever, and it turned out to only be hype.
1) Le Creuset cookware - $230-300 for a Dutch oven. Look, I love my Le Creuset pieces. I purchased a set and it cost me a pretty penny. But was it worth it? Probably not. Prior to getting the set, I'd been using an enameled cast iron Dutch oven by Lodge. It worked just as well as any of my Le Creuset enameled cast iron piece ever has. Maybe after decades of use I might be able to tell a difference? Maybe? But when you consider that my Lodge enameled Dutch oven cost $60 and the Le Creuset costs four times that, well... it wasn't the best money I've ever spent.
2) Viking food processor - $335. I'd heard sooooo much about Viking and wasn't really thrilled with my Hamilton Beach food processor, because it wasn't as smooth, quiet and effortless as the ones the pros use on TV. Well, the Viking is nice. But when I need to use a food processor, guess what I use? That's right, my Hamilton Beach, which cost a tenth -- if that -- of the Viking. Why? Not because it does a better job. But it does pretty much the same job, and it's lightweight and convenient, whereas the Viking is heavy as hell. If I wanted an upgrade, I probably should have gone with something in between the two, like a KitchenAid.
3) Fancy soaps, like those from LUSH Cosmetics - $5-8/bar. It pains me to say this, because I went through a big LUSH phase and still, in my heart of hearts, have a soft spot for it. But intellectually, I know that most of their stuff isn't worth the money. Do they use ingredients that you'd rather eat than lather with? Yes. Do they have incredibly gifted marketers? Yes. That's how they can make people pay for 1 bar of soap what it would cost to buy a dozen somewhere else. I'm not saying it's not worthwhile to buy nice cosmetics, things that are made with care and organic materials and are good for your body. But there's such a thing as value, and LUSH does not provide that, imho.
4) Manolo Blahnik shoes - $500-1,000. Yes, I have a pair -- they were purchased off eBay so no, I didn't pay full price for them. I think I paid half. But still, a very freaking expensive pair of shoes. And disappointingly, they didn't turn me into Carrie Bradshaw. I suppose, to be fair, it also depends on the pair you buy. But unless you're fabulously wealthy, could it ever really be worthwhile, at that price point??
5) Most of my books. Okay, this doesn't really fit in the category but I think it's worth calling out. I love books and I love reading, but there is no reason I should have bought 90% of the books I have. They take up space, they're heavy (just ask Jade and Robbie), and nearly all of them are freely available at the library. There are very few books in my collection that I would need to have immediately available should I desire to read them again. And despite most of them being from Half Price Books, the cost of all these books -- both in purchasing them and in having to find space for them -- isn't actually worth it. I'm actively trying to cull what I have down, and sell or donate the rest. The books I'm allowed to keep are 1) cookbooks, which often need to be pulled out again and again; 2) books I actively read over and over; and 3) my absolute favorites. It's a hard process and a slippery slope, but I think I'm doing decently well so far.
mynuet has tagged me to do a meme! I think I shall save that for tomorrow, since I've rambled on enough in this post.
