$ Poll.

What's your philosophy, if time wasn't an issue... Buy now "on the cheap" and accept that it may not last long... or wait until you can afford to buy the best you can that will last a long long time?

This could apply to anything. Furniture, appliances, lighting, etc.

Re: $ Poll.

I'm done buying cheap - put it together yourself furniture- you spend more in the long run

I would rather wait and get what I really want - and something that will last

Re: $ Poll.

The less trendy and the more classic something is the more I am willing to spend.

That being said, my tastes are very traditional. I'm not a trendy person.

Most furniture is so poorly made these days I can cringe when I see most of it from a distance, never mind when I start inspecting joints, drawers etc. I'd rather spend a lot of money and buy quality when it comes to furniture, cabinets, etc.

The plumbing fixtures in my MBath were but they are antique inspired and really well made.

I'm in this house for the long haul so I don't mind spending money on quality. I'll save until I can get it. My LR and DR still are not furnished because I haven't found the perfect pieces.

Message edited 3/20/2007 10:37:09 PM.

Re: $ Poll.

We are definitely savers and wait until we can afford to buy what we want, as expensive as it is. DH won't do cheap, he'd rather live with out, which took me a looonnngg time to agree with, but I definitely agree now and the payoff is definitely worth the wait for some things - I got the dining set I wanted, but I am still waiting for my kitchen countertops.

Re: $ Poll.

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Most furniture is so poorly made these days I can cringe when I see most of it from a distance, never mind when I start inspecting joints, drawers etc. I'd rather spend a lot of money and buy quality when it comes to furniture, cabinets, etc.

Re: $ Poll.

We buy things that are good values. We don't need bells & whistles & brand names with most stuff.

Our plumbing faucets I got online wholesale, the company is not well known here but they are #1 in Canada. I got them brand new for a fraction of what I would have paid for a well known American name. So to me even though the price was cheap, I didn't get a cheap product.
Furniture, most of our stuff I saved up to buy & most of it sereval years old now. We also have many quality family pieces that we love & have no plans on replacing.

It comes down to how badly I need(not want) the item & what my budget is. When I set a budget for something I make it work. If I do buy something of lesser quaility, but it serves my purpose while I use it everyday I don't feel as if it was a waste.
In April I'm having a yard sale to sell all of my inexpensive furniture we don't use anymore.

Re: $ Poll.

Posted by skew

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Most furniture is so poorly made these days I can cringe when I see most of it from a distance, never mind when I start inspecting joints, drawers etc. I'd rather spend a lot of money and buy quality when it comes to furniture, cabinets, etc.

i TOTALLY agree.

Re: $ Poll.

We definately have become savers & not buying items to just fill the house! We purchased our home in August 2005 & didn't have the $$ to get a dining room set. We could have gotten something on the "cheaper" side to just have but we didn't want to do that. We just started to look for a dining room set last weekend as we saved enough to buy something nice & that will last.

In my opinion, the cheaper stuff is just that & doesn't last as long. You end up spending twice as much if you buy the cheap first & then buy the expensive. The cheap stuff might give you 5 years if you are lucky!

Re: $ Poll.

Neither!
Buy antique!
Get the best of both worlds!

Re: $ Poll.

I too am done with put together furniture! Id rather wait and pay a little more for a better piece of furniture

Re: $ Poll.

for the most part now a days we wait until we can afford what will last. in some cases though i go on the cheap. its really a case by case situation. examples: computer, waited and saved got what i wanted. sofa, going to get a cheap one because we just need something for when family is here this summer. we also compromise a lot but not going totally high end but not getting bargain basement crap, appliances are a good example.

some things, like my camera, are nice and i got a great deal by being patient and waiting for what i wanted to be listed on craigslist (or eBay) so i have both nice and cheap.

Re: $ Poll.

DH and I like a lot of traditional things so we usually buy stuff that will last.

Re: $ Poll.

buy what will last... i'm too old to put furniture together again, and again...

Re: $ Poll.

I'd rather buy good quality pieces rather then waste my money on band-aid fixes.

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DH and I have had this philosophy about electronics in particular, we think that's a no brainer.

I wonder though about our first couple of years in a new house. We don't even have bedroom dressers! We have cheapo shelving and rollaway drawers.

In a rented apartment, you kind of expect a mish mosh of different stuff. But our things are going to look a bit funny in a new house, when the time comes.

Re: $ Poll.

i voted on number two, id rather wait longer for what i reallywant

Re: $ Poll.

It really depends. We actually buy the middle of the road.

Or we hit the expensive items on Sales.

Re: $ Poll.

I think it depends on the item. For new living room or bedroom furniture, I'd rather save and buy well-made items. But we needed a new computer desk last fall, and knowing that our "office" will someday either be a baby's room or guest room, we went to Furn-a-kit and bought a $100 desk. If it lasts us 3 or 4 years, I'll be happy.

That being said, I bought an entire home theater system about 5 years ago. All Sony, which I thought was awesome. Well, the DVD player, and the 400-disc CD player have both died already. We use the iPod and a $60 DVD player now, and have no complaints with either. Sometimes, more money doesn't mean better quality.