Didn’t Sears buy Lands End?
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yes - many years ago.
Regardless, I know a lot of very wealthy waspy New England types and went to very posh NE prep school (a million years ago) everyone had some things from LLBean, virtually nothing for Lands End. In fact the males in my prep school all had 2-3 LLbean flannel shirts and 1 of 2 sweaters. I sort of assume as Bean was always “local” and Lands End is from midwest (I think originally?). I think back then quality was possible the same, but it wasn’t seen as cool. At least that was my experience! And once it was being sold at Sears (in store- gasp)…went down from there;)
Note, I bought my kids lands end snow gear for years -was great quality for the price:)
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Ds’s school uniforms were from Land’s End.
I agree that quality is great for the price.
I look for good value on nearly everything I buy – including small purchases like groceries or gas, or large purchases like a car or house. It’s almost like a hobby. I enjoy solving problems in a way that optimizes for best value. This isn’t the same as “penny pinching”. More often than not, “best value” involves buying something other than the cheapest version of a product. It’s more getting the most personal utility per $ spent. Some examples are below:
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I’m going on a day trip to Big Bear tomorrow. On the way back from such trips, I usually stop at the lowest priced gas along the way. It will probably be a $3.89/gal place in San Bernadino. The lowest priced option in my local town where I filled up last week is $4.49/gal – $0.60/gal higher.
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Rather than keeping my short-term in a HYSA or treasury product (USFR) at the same bank/brokerage, I regularly move my short-term around to different locations, to get a higher return (after taxes). For example, on Monday I plan to start the Chase Private Client bonus, which I expect to a return of approximately 4 + (1 + 2/250) x (356/90) = 8% APY over the 90 day period, prior to taxes. And the E*TRADE bank bonus, which I expect to return 4 + (1 + 750/75k) x (356/45) = 12% APY over the 45 day period, prior to taxes.
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I get the majority of my groceries via delivery or pickup, choosing the service that has the best value after discounts on the items I want to buy, which often involves choosing a different service from one trip to the next. For example, my most recent grocery trip was at Target. I stacked last week’s Target circle offers of 20% off anything in store and $10 off $50 groceries. I also chose items that are lower or similar priced at Target than elsewhere (a fairly small minority). I am low on frozen fish, so my next order will be an Instacart discount for $15 off $30+ purchase on meats, which I plan to use at Aldi’s – in my opinion, the best sticker price value grocer for frozen fish. I will stack this 50% off discount with a 20% discount on Instacart gift cards.
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I am about to renew my Netflix. I pay for Netflix in Turkish Lira. Turkey has been averaging ~50%/year inflation in recent years, which makes the currency conversion favorable. After the Lira to $ conversion, it works out to $3.82/month for a no commercial plan – less than the $18/month if I paid in $.
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their successor cookie has been re-manufactured by Leaf Brands
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I’m going to have to look for those. Where are they sold?
amazon, (of course). they have a link down the page.
A local Philly ice cream store uses Hydrox in their cookies and cream.
edited to add: no, no retail stores carry them.
Ok…wonder if any real stores carry these cookies. I’ll have to keep my eyes out.
OMG how does one do this? We are thinking of cancelling Netflix because we’re looking for things to trim out of our budget. But at $3.82/month I’d keep it!
I don’t distinguish among brands, only prices. It would mess with my equilibrium to a pay a penny more for anything than I absolutely had to. What I like/prefer is what’s least expensive.
This wins the internet today
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Impressed with using lots of acquired knowledge and details to utilize with the tweaking not only on spending, but what you have done on bank/brokerage and treasury products.
Shows the difference in gas prices from your area - and a $ 0.60/gallon savings is worthy for sure. Our lowest price gas is at Sam’s or with Circle K, recent Circle K was $2.569/gallon. We are in N AL. My DD1 in San Antonio notes that gas is lowest on a particular day of the week - and when I was there, I did notice that, but their gas prices are just a tad bit higher or the same as ours.
Since DH and I are both retired, and even before, we always have picked up our own groceries - in part because we live so close to all of the grocery stores and typically tie in getting groceries along with other trips. I have tended to obtain all the household grocery items, because it often has taken such detailed instructions to DH as to exactly what to purchase that it was worth me going out if I needed more than a couple of things. But now, he does some baking and prepares a lot of the foods he wants to eat so he does more grocery shopping and has gained familiarity with the stores. DH also goes to Home Depot a lot (and we have a Lowes close to that as well) which is near Aldi, and not far off the path is Kroger, so he can obtain the few needed grocery items while he is out. He goes to Home Depot at least 4X a week - he runs into small, needed item on his fix-it projects, hobby, and yard stuff. Plus, it breaks up his day and he likes going in Home Depot.
When we move to TX (probably 2026) we definitely will get use to some free grocery pickup (their big grocery store is HEB). It will be a lot more time driving on trips out, due to everything being further away in the big city and more traffic.
We have never subscribed to Netflix. We got rid of DirecTV a couple of years ago (originally got it for Disney for kids’ entertainment when DDs were young and also enjoyed other shows for us) when we could no longer get the discounts and it just got ridiculously pricey - and now we use free streaming and don’t really miss anything worth watching. I sometimes watch DVDs of favorites if I can’t find some movie that I want to watch on Amazon Prime. I watch some faith-based programs on EWTN which help feed my soul (I am a life-long Catholic).
I find comfort in ‘solid middle class’ attributes, being careful with spending but will spend on quality and also experiences worthy. Also more on high-quality food, which is more focus on nutrition – and it is the basics, fresh fruit and vegetables, salads, limiting carbs and sugar. One doesn’t spend more if one does ‘home cooking’ and with planning of meals. We don’t eat out a lot but will eat out when it suits us to do so.
Saw something which indicated some on food choices – lower income focuses on quantity of food, middle income importance of quality of food, and higher-income food presentation. That shows out with high-class restaurants and the presentation of the food.
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How much does it cost to live comfortably? Certainly, there are people living comfortably in a lot of places for lower amounts than surmised in this article, but it does give pause to thinking about changes where you live in retirement if you do not live geographically where you desire to have in retirement.
To me, the cost of residence (purchase price and ongoing costs to maintain or rent and ongoing costs) is a big factor.
To me these numbers would be unsettling to some who believe they have enough saved with their nest egg for retirement and then get these numbers. But also, to reflect on living fairly well up to this point with less income but still able to have good savings and investments.
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As part of my retirement planning, I looked into the costs involved with being widowed. A single person is in a tough financial position, whether they are single by choice or were thrown into being single. I really feel for my single kid.
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Regarding LLB vs LE
…I guess my Illinois is showing…despite living near Boston for 25+ years now 
My mom bought LL Bean, Lands End, or occasionally Eddie Bauer. Cotton, high quality, returnable, nice catalogs. Later in her life she went to Macy’s and then Nordstrom’s. I still shop at all of the above except EB. But nearly 100% online.
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Does this still work? I heard Netflix has been cracking down on payments that are different from country of subscription. Many reported this form of payment has not been working.
Our financial planner did this. He created three columns…one for when both of us had retirement income, one for just my DH, and one for just me. This gave us a good view of our finances together, and what the finances would be if one of us dies.
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I too looked into the financial issues of being widowed, assuming DH would die first in which case I’d be Ok though significantly worse off. It was thus a shock for me to receive a terminal diagnosis a few months ago out of the blue and I’ve been spending time setting things up and trying to show him the stuff he needs to know including written details of accounts and bills. It won’t make much difference to him financially other than I’ve fully taken care of the finances for years and he’s very anxious at the moment and frustrated with all things computer. We’re going to have a family meeting with our daughters and there’s a good chance they’ll take over for him because he’ll be very vulnerable and can tend towards being impulsive.
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I’m so sorry that you are dealing with this unexpected news. Hugs to you as you journey through this stage.
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@Onetogo2 -I’m sorry. Sending hugs and peace to you and your family.
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