Buy nice or buy twice: Why I'd rather spend more on my purchases
Ever shopped for something but found it too expensive so you opted for a cheaper version you found online, then when the product came, you were left disappointed with its quality? While this isn't always the case—some lower-cost items are great finds—it's good to keep this principle in mind: Buy nice or buy twice.
Recently, I bought replacement ear tips for my AirPods Pro online. There were a ton of options, branded ones that cost almost P1,000 and no-name ones that were just P50. After seeing that the cheaper ones have overall good reviews, I added them to my cart. Days later when they arrived, the ear tips didn't even fit, and since my old ones are torn, I had to buy another pair that cost more. What a waste of P50.
There were also instances when I felt like I wasted money buying something nice: I bought a dog carrier at a pet store for P800 when there was a P200 alternative online. My dog hated being in the carrier and preferred to walk when we'd go out, so that's another wad of cash down the drain.
Given that, I still do not regret splurging on the more expensive choice.
To splurge or not to splurge?
You have to think about the item's cost per wear. In this mindset, you'll be comparing the price of something with how many times you think you'll be using it. For example, if you buy shoes worth P4,000 and wear them a hundred times before you get rid of them, the cost per wear would be P40. On the other hand, let's say you have shoes worth P500 but only got to wear them twice, the cost per wear would be a higher P250. Is it still worth the tipid?
Now hear me out, this purchasing principle shouldn't necessarily apply to all your buys. In my experience, this should be practiced for things like tech, cars and other big purchases, as well as clothes where you can really notice the difference in quality.
However, I'm not saying you should always spring for the good stuff. Think of each purchase as an investment. You should be smart about buying expensive items: always check the durability, how well the product was made, and how long you think you'll be using it so you're not left feeling scammed out of your money.
Something might be pricey but its specs are so-so and not future-proof. After some time, you might need to buy another again, so you have to be vigilant. No one likes overpriced stuff, right?