I have to admit that lately I have not been the most frugal person. My husband and I recently purchased patio furniture and it was much more than we originally had intended to spend. I have been feeling rather guilty about the cost of said furniture. Could it really be worth the extra dough it cost us? So, I thought about it for a good while and made a list.

*If I spend half of the price now but have to replace the item in 3-4 years with another (of similar price) am I really saving any money? (If nothing else I am spenidng more time researching, buying, assembling, etc. And time IS money after all.)

* Are the materials the products are made of equal? (In this case we were looking at aluminum versus steel. Hmmmm. Definately not equal in durability.)

* Does a more expensive price guarantee a warranty? (When comparing items look at the lifetime warranties. Is one guaranteed for a year, while the other guaranteed for a lifetime? If so, that warranty could save you a lot of money later.)

*Reputation (Is the product you are buying a brand name? What is the reputation of the company? Are they known for dependability, backing their products and offering replacements, customer service, or durability?)

*Look and feel (Sometimes the look and feel of product screams, "CHEAP" or "HIGH QUALITY" depending on the item. )

Sometimes price IS the deciding factor. Sometimes it just doesn't matter (like when buying a pool noodle or a placemat.) But sometimes it does matter. When it does matter these are a few thoughts I think about. I decided in the end, yes, sometimes it really is worth it to spend more money to get a quality product!

This is what works for me.

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