4 Things You Should Never Try To Save Money On
Written by
Andrew Lisa
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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If money were no object, everyone would drive Ferraris and wear Rolexes. But in reality, ordinary people on average budgets can’t always insist on the best and most expensive — but with some purchases, they should never settle for the cheapest they can find, either.
Sometimes, the old “buy it nice, or buy it twice” adage is at play. The logic is that in your quest to save money, you’ll spend more in the long run if you have to replace a cheap version of something that breaks or wears out before its time. In other cases, the lowest-cost version of a thing can be uncomfortable, unsightly or even physically harmful.
Saving money is always a good thing — unless it’s in a misguided effort to save money on these critical purchases.
Tires
According to J.D. Power, tires can cost less than $100 each or more than $700, but they all have one thing in common — eventually, every tire wears out and needs to be replaced.
Capital One Auto Navigator advised that most drivers don’t need to spring for the high-end, high-performance, high-cost options, but those who settle for the cheapest available option quickly learn that tires are a get-what-you-pay-for proposition.
Higher-quality tires provide a better grip, shorter stopping and safer handling in challenging weather. Better tires also offer a more comfortable ride and improve fuel economy. Last but not least, good tires last longer than cheap ones, putting more years and miles before the inevitable and expensive replacement.
Shoes
Like tires, shoes can cost anywhere from two figures to four, and most buyers will probably buy something in between. Also like tires, shoes are literally where the rubber meets the road, and low-quality shoes can have dire consequences for the machine they support.
According to Randell’s Footcare, an HCPC-registered network of podiatrists, cheap shoes — especially those worn by children — are often made from subpar materials that promote sweat and encourage the growth of fungus and viruses. Poorly made shoes can also lead to ingrown toenails, corns, calluses and bunions while causing heel pain, nail injuries and back pain.
This is especially true for purpose-built footwear, like safety boots for work, snow boots, running sneakers, cleats or athletic shoes.
Mattresses
According to HomeGuide, the price range for a mattress is $100 to $700 for a twin, $200 to $1,500 for a queen, or $250 to $2,500 for a king. Buyers might not need to spring for a top-of-the-line mattress to achieve quality sleep and all the benefits that come with it, but they’d also be wise to avoid the cheapest one they can find.
Sleep Foundation outlined what buyers sacrifice when they save money on substandard mattresses. The first, of course, is poor sleep — trouble falling asleep, waking up throughout the night, etc. — which can lead to a range of dangerous physical and mental health outcomes. Bad mattresses also sag and generate excessive heat, causing and aches and pains upon waking.
According to Consumer Reports, cheap mattresses can have high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals used in manufacturing that can vaporize at room temperature and linger in the air. When inhaled, they can cause headaches, allergic reactions, respiratory and eye irritation, nausea and dizziness.
Desk Chairs
Conventional wisdom says that sitting is the new smoking, and with millions of office workers and telecommuters spending most of their waking hours planted in chairs, they should buy the best chairs they can afford.
You can find desk chairs online for less than $100 or more than $2,000.
At-home office workers might not have to part with a four-figure sum to achieve their own ergonomic bliss, but the cheapest available option will likely leave them — and their backs — with buyer’s remorse.
According to Nova Medical Centers, good chairs provide superior pelvic and lumbar support, which can alleviate leg and back pain. High-quality chairs also improve posture and blood flow, which can increase productivity. And, like all the other entries on this list, a better chair can last longer and require less frequent costly replacements.
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