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"The Real Deal is a very old idea whose time may be coming back. This is how prudent people everywhere used to buy things before the postwar consumer boom -- and how many Europeans, pressed to reconcile elegant taste with limited space and money, still shop. You bought the very best thing you could afford, and used it until it fell apart. If you were rich enough, you bought the very best one there was -- not to show off (though that's a perk, too); but because it was an investment, a piece of family capital. You spent the money right the first time, so your kids wouldn't have to go out and spend it again.
"[...]
"In other words: The rich didn't buy this stuff to show off their money. They bought it because they were cheap, and taking the long view. In this downscaled era, it's a consumer ethic that those of us looking to get more value and satisfaction out of less time, space, and money can take a lesson from.
"[...] Instead of a dozen shlocky things that waste resources and won't last, I want to save my pennies and buy One Perfect Thing that supports a skilled craftsperson, honors the earth's gift of materials by enhancing their beauty and ensuring they'll enjoy a long and useful lifespan, and will increase the overall level of fabulousness in my life for a very long time."
-- Sara Robinson, "The Real Deal", 2008-01-15
[Note that this does, alas, bring to mind for the umpteenth time, The Samuel Vimes 'Boots' Theory Of Socio-Economic Injustice.]
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Well, you know, embrace the power of 'and', Ms. Robinson. Aside of that, I really agree with this, and was definetely thinking of the Boots Theory.
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both the scraper & the flipper kind - in the entire world have
always come from the dollar store (I am serious!! I ended up
buying multiples when I found them).
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stores, you can never predict what they will have!!!
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This is exactly where I differ from my mother in terms of my way of thinking about material objects. Despite my parents' having far more money than I'll likely ever have, my mother is the consummate Wal-Mart shopper -- give her lots of whatever, so long as it's cheap. Me, I can't stand Wal-Mart, for reasons other than the political reasons, even. I don't see the point in buying cheap, shoddy crap that's just going to fall apart the second time you use it. I've had a running argument with her for years about Christmas/birthday/whatever presents -- I would rather have one expensive, perfect thing than a whole pile of mediocre junk, but I guess in her eyes I'm still a little kid who wants a mound of presents or something...
The other part of that is that even if you're going after the best one you can afford, you still don't have to pay retail. In the past year, I've bought a set of KitchenAid stainless steel cookware (on sale for 70% off), some very expensive designer curtains (75% off), a wool/silk blend Persian rug (90% off), and a Fender guitar ($300 off the list price). It is possible to own beautiful things if you haven't very much money, but you have to be prudent and watchful.
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