Your favorite money spending tips

[Undertoad]

(This is not a parody thread.)

My momma taught me a lot but one thing she failed to teach me was the importance of spending enough money on tools.

She was always very cheap about lawnmowing devices, power tools, and the like, and I took that attitude when I first moved out. But since then I've learned: that a shitty cheap cordless drill, for example, is not really a tool at all, but a pain in the ass that you must put up with while trying to actually get something accomplished.

I'll never forget the first weed-whacker that my momma and ex-wife colluded on forcing me to get. They demanded that cheapest available electric was fine to whack our 1/3 acre lawn. It was actually branded "clip-stik" which should have been the first clue that it was inappropriate for an actual man to wield. (And looking back, the first clue that I was systematically being feminized in the relationship...)

The correct whacker for the job cost 3 times what the cheapest one cost, but saved countless hours of pain and frustration. Since then I've come to the same conclusion about almost every tool I've owned. If you pay for the expensive one, it'll actually work, and then you'll actually use it and not throw it away in a few years.

[zippyt]

Yeppers ,
When Carol and I first got togather 18 + years ago , we needed a lawn mower , cash was at a low then , but we needed a mower , so I went out and bought a Toro , $350 , the wallymarto version was $75- $100 , Carol FREAKED , but ya know what that SAME mower is still working FINE !!!

Same with hand tools , buy cheap and you will replace it over and over ,
I have a phillips head screwdriver that I have used most EVERY day for the last 20 years , yes it is showing some age , but it still VERRY useable ,

Oh and THIS is my weed wacker , http://www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/s...10138_18652_-1

[HungLikeJesus]

UT -- your favorite money spending tips are really money saving tips.

Money spending tips would be like "buy a rare stamp for $3 million and use it as regular postage."

[lumberjim]

always blow your last $20 on fast food.

[fargon]

I'm with Undertoad on this, my dad always told me "you get what you pay for". All my hand tools are Craftsman, Power tools are Black and Decker, Skil. I use my tools on a daily basis, and can't afford to break something in the middle of a job.

[jinx]

Buy the good one, and only cry once.

[Cloud]

certain items are worth it to spend the extra money to buy quality. I don't know from tools, but among my choices for the category are:

shoes
body jewelry (essential!)

[Clodfobble]

My husband destroys even quality shoes. He scuffs his feet and kicks his own heels when he walks, stands on one foot with the other when he's sitting down... We've actually learned that we might as well buy the cheapass ones because he needs new shoes every 6 months no matter what.

Food is another thing that I believe in buying quality--the generic brand is okay for some stuff, but I can really taste the difference in things like sandwich meat, cereal... oh, and toilet paper! Quality toilet paper is always worth it.

[monster]

We're cheapasses through and through, but we have learned now the kids swim on teams, that you get what you pay for with goggles. (to a point) dollar store and Walmart don't cut it. $12 is what you have to pay.

and I just bought a new bike that wan't totally the cheapest. we're newbie spenders.....

[Hagar]

Even second hand QUALITY tools are usually better than cheapo new ones. Hand tools in particular.

[busterb]

Spending tip. Spend till it's gone, then stop. What me worry?
Black & Decker top of line? Get real. IMHO. Hand tools and drills, ect. I buy from harbor freight. Folks borrow, they break. City picks up junk, trash once a week. Time I drive 55 mile to return a brand name tool to store, I can buy 2 junk ones.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Buy a good one for using and cheap one for lending.

[WabUfvot5]

Sometimes cheap works. For things that will be used repeatedly and often (like a lawn mower) quality matters. If you only need something a scant few times (a hot glue gun for instance) why shell out for it?

[nappyboy2003]

Just look online for consumer reports b4 u ever buy anything because you can find all the info u need about repairs and ect online.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by fargon

I'm with Undertoad on this, my dad always told me "you get what you pay for". All my hand tools are Craftsman, Power tools are Black and Decker, Skil. I use my tools on a daily basis, and can't afford to break something in the middle of a job.

Same here. But I will tell you that I think that craftsman power tools have gone down in quality in the last 10 years or so. Not so for the hand tools. I have moved on to DeWalt for power tools.

Another tool which you need to spend cash on for quality is a chainsaw. I am on my third one in 8 years. Only a good one will cut straight. My first was a Craftsman and last two were (is) Poulan.. I am totally dissatisfied. I am going to spring for $300 or $400 on the next one and get one that cuts through wood like a hot knife through butter.