After going the cheap route for several years for things like, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags and tissues, a visit to my sister in law convinced me that this was an area to splurge on after I spent a week at their house and realized how much better I felt using “nicer” items. The top 'o the line garbage bags didn’t feel like it was about to rip or drip when I took it to the outside trash can, the paper towel didn’t fall apart when cleaning up a big mess and my nose wasn’t made raw when a cold required frequent tissue use. I loved the feel of the sturdier, softer napkins. The super soft tp felt luxurious every time.
I have to say I feel like using the higher end items has made my life better in small ways on a daily basis. We do buy in bulk and on sale of these items and use coupons when we can and husband figures that “all in” we only spend an extra $150-200 per year. I can think of nothing else I could buy for that amount that would give me equivalent pleasure. I know for some people every cent counts so I can see not making this choice, but I’m curious to what you do, if you do have a choice.
I buy the better quality paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, and trash bags at Costco in bulk. The quality is good and it doesn’t end up being much more at all than buying the cheaper brands in smaller quantities at the grocery store. I agree that it definitely makes a nice difference! I also buy the better quality zip lock bags there. My now 32 year old daughter told me recently that when she was little she thought we were poor because all of the other kids at school (I’m sure this is an exaggeration) had zip lock or similar sandwich bags and I only bought the cheap fold over ones!
I wouldn’t say I splurge. I buy what consider to be good quality and value though–usually Costco paper towels, TP, kitchen trash bags. Only Puffs Plus Lotion tissues. Hand soap with a scent I like. My husband buys some super sturdy large yard trash bags–they’re worth every penny. Small savings for poor quality doesn’t seem worth it–if I have to use two bags because one ripped, or two paper towels instead of one better one, have I really saved, and if it’s causing me aggravation at the same time? No.
Depends on the product. Some items I have strong preferences for name brand products, others I’ll go generic, store brand. I can’t say there is a pattern. For some things, I find that store brand is fine, like zip-lock sandwich bags or aluminum foil, but I only buy heavy duty aluminum foil. For paper napkins, I like Vanity Fair style but my local grocery carries a store brand just like it. Paper towels are Brawny Select-a-size.
I have found that we don’t sacrifice quality when we buy the Costco/SamsClub versions of many brand names. But, they don’t have a Viva-version of paper towels.
I do splurge on my dish soap. I love Mrs. Meyers basil and lemon verbena dish soap. I know it is no better than other soaps that cost less, but I just really like the smell.
I love Mrs. Meyers also! Sometimes target has them on sale or clearance and I buy them then.
Cheap garbage bags are frankly garbage 8-} I like the flex bags.
I used to buy drugstore mascara. But then I bought better mascara and it’s a world of difference.
I used to color my own hair but now have it done at the salon, the color doesn’t fade and looks good until the next time I go. I still feel so guilty spending that much on hair!
I just use store brand garbage bags. Since we’re empty nesters these days, we often change out the garage before its full so it doesn’t stink. The store bags stand up to the task for our trash needs no problem.
“I used to color my own hair but now have it done at the salon, the color doesn’t fade and looks good until the next time I go. I still feel so guilty spending that much on hair!”
Me too! But my mom gave me a HUGE salon gift certificate for my birthday so now I have like the whole year paid for which is awesome
I never thought of it as a big splurge, but I do buy name brand household items. Just like them better. Cheap brands for things like toilet paper, just are not as nice.
“cheap brands for things like toilet paper, just are not as nice.”
When my cousin’s mom died, a bunch of us stocked her house with paper good including TP for the shiva. I guess she’d always bought the super cheap-o TP. A few days after the shiva she called me to ask if we’d “spent like a hundred dollars on the tp because it is so nice.” I pointed out to her that the package of 24 rolls we bought cost approximately $4 bucks more a pack than the super cheap-o stuff she was used to buying and with using even 8 rolls a month that would only cost her like 16 bucks more a year.
After years of buying Costco brand toilet paper, I decided to try Quilted Northern Ultra plush 3 ply when it was on sale several years ago. That was a game changer…never could go back to Costco brand again. I also get it when staying over at my kids’ homes.
We started to splurge much more after both kids’ incomes exceeded ours.
I buy the least expensive of almost everything from TP to cars, but we have an odd habit of buying “luxury” bars of soap, you know, those boxes of aromatic French milled soaps that come three- to four-in-a-box at TJ Maxx and places like that. Hubby says that because he showers every day (thank heaven), it’s a bit of luxury every morning that he enjoys. Scratchy TP, rough tissues, store-brand garbage bags, I just never give those things a thought. Dang you, CCers, now I’m tempted to pick up some Charmin because, you know, I use the bathroom every day…
Toilet Paper - Charmin
Laundry Detergent - Tide
Kitchen Trash Bags - Glad
Tin Foil - Reynolds
Plastic Wrap - Saran Wrap
Napkins - use cloth napkins 99% of time, Vanity Fair dinner napkins rest of time
Paper Towels - use cloth dish towels, but for some cleaning, use Bounty paper towels
Dishwasher Soap - Cascade
Baggies - Ziploc