Buying good stuff

Most consumers buy stuff Right Now, and they generally buy crappy stuff that will wear out quickly and need to be replaced — whether we’re talking clothes or furniture. Here’s a fun article on ideas as to why this is so (a consumerist society, easy credit, more affluent times, and a lack of experience these days as to what represents Good Stuff), and some suggestions on when to buy Good, when to buy Cheap.

You don’t have to buy quality all the time — and probably can’t afford to — but it’s important to know when to shell out for the good stuff. A few examples of times to skimp — or splurge:

• Mattress: SPLURGE. You sit, sleep and God knows what else on this item. Get a good one.
• Men’s dress shirt: SKIMP. If your suit is well-tailored and the tie spectacular, the shirt will be an afterthought.
• Chef’s knife: SPLURGE. One 8-inch chef’s knife is all you need.
• Women’s shirts: SKIMP. Cute tops from H&M will go out of style before they fall apart.
• Overcoat: SPLURGE. First impressions mean a lot.
• Accent chair: SKIMP. If it’s cool and rarely supports a rear, quality can come after design.
• Table linens: SKIMP. Choose inexpensive table cloths and napkins to keep your tabletop trendy.

Good stuff.

(via Les)