There has long been a debate about whether a person should buy cheap or buy quality. Those who adhere to a particular camp are very adamant that they have the right idea. But is there really a method that should be held to over another? Ultimately it boils down to what the item is, and how much use it will be getting.
Obviously the biggest advantage to buying cheaper items is that they cost less than their higher quality counter parts. A cheaper item will help to get you by for a little while, but ultimately they will not last as long.
While it is tempting to go cheap on your purchases, everyone wants to save money after all, it may be better to spend a little bit more and purchase a quality item. They will almost always last longer, and often if they do indeed break, they have a warranty that will replace them.
So it is not that difficult to show that buying a quality item will cost more, but last longer. Where the difficulty comes up is whether or not you should put out the money to buy a quality item. For those small jobs, where you will only need it a few times, or for a limited time, it might be better to get the cheap item. When you need it longer, or will be using it often throughout the years, it will be in your best interest to put forth the extra money and get something that will last.
Several years ago I needed a new cordless drill. I looked around, and since I did not have a lot of extra money at the time, I decided to spend $20 on a cheap 18 volt cordless from a discount hardware store. It worked for what I needed it, but the first thing I noticed is that it didn’t even have as much power as the 12 volt drill it was replacing. I used the drill regularly for about a year until the battery simply would not hold a charge any longer. By this point I had decided that I would be using a cordless drill often, so I invested in a much better quality tool. I did my research and the replacement cost $175. I have been using that drill for over 5 years without any problems. Not only is it still running as though it were new, it is a much higher functioning piece of equipment than its cheaper counterpart.There are two ways of approaching purchases. Many times we try to go the cheap route in order to save money. However, in the long run, this route often ends up costing much more than it saves. Before making purchases take some time to figure out how much you will be using the item over the next few years. If you only need it once, consider renting it. If you will need it occasionally, a cheap item may suit your needs. If it will be used regularly for years to come, invest in a quality product that will work when you need it to work.
Are you a buy cheap or buy quality type of person?
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