Big Ticket Household Items You Shouldn’t Cheap Out On

This post is by our former staff writer, Daisy.

Many personal finance buffs preach frugality, which is great. Frugality is an important part of a well-rounded financial individual.

However, frugality does not always mean buying the cheapest item; it means making the best financial decision for yourself when faced with a purchasing decision.

The cheapest item is rarely the best financial decision.

See, cheap items usually don’t last for very long, causing you to spend money on the same item in the future, much sooner than you would have to if you purchased a quality item.

Sure, a quality item may cost 200% more than the cheap item, but if the item is actually good quality, it will last longer. It will require fewer repairs, costing you less in the long run.

Some furniture items (ie bar stools) you can cheap out on and it will be fine. If you don’t use the furniture item on a regular basis, or if it’s more for a decorative purpose, Ikea is a great shopping option.

However, for your health and for your wallet, there are some major items that you should not be cheaping out on:

Your Mattress

Your mattress has a lot to do with your ability to fall and stay asleep. I know that sounds really obvious, but it’s surprising how few people realize that some of their sleeping issues have to do with their mattress.

Splurge on your mattress, because it has a direct relation to your quality of life. Also, a bad mattress that isn’t right for your spine can cause back issues, which can be costly in chiropractic and massage therapy fees.

The Couch

Gone are the days that people spent more of their time off the couch than on it. Even if you are a reasonably active person, it’s likely that you log at least a couple of hours of couch time every day.

Because you use your couch so often, it should be comfortable and supportive. If you buy a good quality couch, it’s likely that it will last you for a long time.

Computer Desk & Chair

If you spend a lot of time on your computer, which many of us do, it’s crucial to have a good ergonomic setup. Your desk should be the right height for your body while you are sitting. It also needs to have proper placement of a keyboard tray and mouse.

Your computer chair needs to be able to support sitting marathons and provide comfort and posture support.

Vacuum

When I first moved out on my own, I bought the cheapest vacuum I could find. I didn’t have much money because I was a college student and I needed a vacuum because the basement suite I lived in had carpet.

The vacuum did a terrible job of sucking up the dust in the carpet. It did make it look clean, so for the first few months I couldn’t figure out why I had such bad allergies. It wasn’t even hay fever season.

I went to my doctor time and time again to get allergy medication. At one point, she asked whether or not I had carpet, and if so, what I was doing to get rid of dust.

I informed her that I had a vacuum that I did use on a regular basis, but she told me that it might not be enough unless it was a pretty good vacuum. I borrowed my mom’s more expensive (and better quality) model and found that my allergies cleared up almost right away.

Don’t cheap out on your vacuum. There are some great quality models for a decent price, so just make sure you are doing your research. If you buy your vacuum online, make sure to use one step checkout to speed the process up.

Frugality isn’t always about buying the cheapest model of something. You can get ahead by buying a better quality model (which is not to say you can’t find it on sale).

What have you splurged on around the house that has been worth it? Do you have certain items you’re willing to pay more for in order to get better quality? Let me know in the comments below!