A dear friend of mine is always educating me about the value of making smart money decisions. I come from a family particularly fond of bargain-hunting, but what I've learned from this friend is that in many cases, it's better to make smarter, well-thought-out purchases. We call these "investments" for our slow home.
It's not always easy to make the decision to spend a lot of money. While I still bargain-shop for clothes, which may be in one season and out the next, in many other arenas, I try to wage the bargain against the investment.
Let's take the classic case of my beautiful prized possession: a Carribean blue 5-quart Le Creuset Dutch oven (I'm in love, what can I say?). Other brands can be found for under $50; why did I think it was necessary to have the one that cost around $200? For starters, it's beautiful. A stunning kitchen piece, it's a real workhorse that gets used every week in fall and winter, for soups and breads and casseroles. Then there's the extensive warranty. I know this piece will be with me for the rest of my cooking days, and someday, I hope to pass it down to my family.
Making wise purchases, and knowing when to spend more for a better product, contribute to the slow home. When considering any new addition to your home, take these things into consideration:
Do I want this to last? A bed, an heirloom kitchen item, or a substantial furniture piece are all lasting things. A smock or tablecloth, however, might not be.
Is the design timeless? To truly buy well, buy once, you must factor in the design of the product. Something that's super hip and trendy today may fall by the wayside in no time. Focus on things that speak to you—loudly.
Is it built well, by people who are treated fairly and with sustainable resources? Superb craftsmanship is of utmost importance here.
Related Posts:
• Beyond Small Living: The Slow Home Movement
• Tips for the Slow Home: Smart Furnishings
• Family Spaces from the Slow Home
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Amber, I loved this. Forget "green" products. Investing in long lasting products made to last, is the real way to save the planet. I bought a lovely nicely made cotton tablecloth (moderately priced) that is sturdy, beautiful and can be thrown in the wash with my reuseable cotton bags, chico bags, cotton dish cloths and oven mitts. It's a deep maroon color and looks beautiful with bright decorations on it.
I have never regretted investing in well-made items for my home and kitchen. Quality furniture, pots, knives, linens, and the like. These are my things that I *enjoy* using, use often, and will last me my lifetime and longer.
This reminds me of my favorite Russian saying which (loosely translated) is: I am too poor to buy cheap things.
I fell for one of the cheap knock-off Le Cruesets and got what I paid for. The enamel chipped, it was hard to clean and it just didn't cook as well. I gave it away.
Great ideas for my budget. I usually try to factor in the length of time it'll last. I need to start picking more classic designs though.
@Mamamamaqc what a great saying.
I love that fabric/towel! Any ideas where it came from?
@Mamamamaqc, I'm adopting that saying! It's so true.
mamamamaqc - I love that, words to live by.
You know how old homes don't have as much storage and closet space? Well, that's in the "good old days", the current day shopping mall wasn't a form of entertainment, a way to spend a Saturday or a lunch break. People didn't have credit carts to satisfy every whim & desire. You went to the store when you needed, really needed something. I struggle with overconsumerism, buying quality over quantity is the way to go.
One of my personal mantras "buy nice or buy twice” also reminds me of a little piece of Japanese architectural history called sumptuary laws. Sumptuary laws have been around throughout the ages in different civilizations. They sought to limit how much of one thing that a person or family could have (derivative of consumption), therefore those people tried to make that one thing as nice and long lasting as possible. We live in a seemingly opposite mind set today, where many things are disposable. Buying once also allows you to have things that develop character over time.
So true. I don't do Cheap, and as a result, almost never have to replace anything.
@Mamamamaqc, I have been using that saying for a while now, I never knew where it was from. Thank you :)
I try my hardest to only buy nice things, but sometimes it just isn't worth it when you live with the worlds biggest klutz :P I would never buy expensive stemware or anything else easily breakable. I love him, but he's a wrecking machine.(Can't wait till we have kids haha)
I would also add the question (already implied by your post):
"Will I use this frequently?"
A better-made item will stand up to wear and tear and often be repairable. It'll make daily tasks less pesky or bring you more pleasure on a frequent basis. And thinking in terms of cost-per-use will make it seem much more affordable. I came around to choosing quality over cheap more recently, so these are thoughts that help me get over that reluctance to spend where it counts.
Love these comments! "Buy nice or buy twice," exactly. "I am too poor to buy cheap things," fantastic!
@LilyLemonbar: it's from Crate & Barrel last year.
That exact one in that exact color has been on my Amazon wishlist for over a year. My mom got me the smaller version for Christmas but I think the larger one would get a lot of use!
I love this concept, and I'm trying to work it around to a two-way thought process: investing in something nice, but also finding that "something nice" as a used item, rather than a new one. If a crockery pot has lasted someone for several decades before they finally bought a new one and donated it, what is to prevent it from servicing for me for several more decades, as long as I take care of it? Some things should be invested in new, and some things can be invested in used; a new concept for me.
I've always wanted one. At a time I was considered pursaching a copy at Ikea, but finally I'm waiting to have more money for Le Creuset