Growing up, my grandmother always gave each of her grandchildren $100 for Christmas. My sister would go out and buy 10 little things, and I would go buy 1 nice thing.
Fast forward 40 years, and my sister still opts for quantity while I go for quality. We're both frugal, but in our own ways.
The Argument for Quality
We just replaced our 25 year old sofa. It was expensive 25 years ago, but it lived a long life and was worth re-upholstering twice.
Buying items that last is environmentally friendly.
High quality doesn't have to mean high price tag. Garage sales and consignment stores can be great places to shop if you know your brands and know how to spot quality pieces. Last week, I saw a brand-new Bernhardt sofa at a consignment store for $600 that retails for $3000!
My favorite outfits are expensive timeless designer pieces (from the Palm Beach Goodwill, of course!) that I'll still be wearing in 10 years.
If I can't afford the best, I don't mind doing without. We went 12 years without dining room furniture because I didn't want to settle for cheap. I know have a gorgeous dining room table that I hope our children will want one day.
The Argument for Quantity / Less Expensive Items
My sister likes change. She gets bored with the same furniture, so she opts for cheap furniture that she won't feel guilty about replacing in a few years.
Wise shoppers know that you shouldn't spend a lot of money on trendy items. In today, out tomorrow.
Your money will only go so far, and you don't want to spend 10 years decorating your house.
You're not an outfit repeater, so you fill your closet with lots of inexpensive pieces.
You can't justify spending a ton of money on just one item.
In the long run, I suspect that my sister and I both spend the same amount of money on clothes and furniture…we just have different shopping styles.
How about you? If you're buying furniture, do you go for high-quality pieces that will last? What about clothes? Please leave a comment to share your thoughts when it comes to quality or quantity.
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image courtesy of Stuart Miles, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
