Are you an UNDERbuyer?

[kymom99]

One place I've struggled with underbuying is the grocery store. I think "why buy a bag of pre-washed/cut salad greens, when a head of greens is so much cheaper?" But the reality is that when I buy the head of greens, I'm always too tired (cough, cough...more like "lazy"...cough, cough) to wash and dry them properly for a salad when I'm cooking dinner so they go bad before I use them - or worse, I just get take out instead of dealing with the hassle. The fact is I usually save money when I buy key items like that - since I actually use them, they are a much better value for the money. So I've told myself to just had to get over paying more for them - its OK. LOL

(And yes, I have a salad spinner but the greens don't get dry enough for my liking with that. And it's a pain to pull it out and clean it afterwards!)

I'm with you on that. Plus I like the blends of different greens.

 

[MomToOne]

I think I'm probably an under buyer- or just plain cheap, can't decide. My couch is 18 years old, becoming threadbare in spots, has a sponge egg-crate folded up under the cushions for extra support, and is really showing its age. I can't think of replacing it, though; it still is comfortable and seems wasteful to get rid of it. Ditto the sofa bed in the front room, and it's 30 years old! We don't own smart phones or have a cell phone with a plan. Because of where we live, we have to have a landline in the house (cell reception is spotty, unreliable in our town) and I can't bring myself to pay for cell phones just for the convenience. DH and I each have a bottom of the line tracfone to keep in our cars, for emergencies. Then there is the TV, which is a 36" NOT flat screen TV. It is probably 12" deep and weighs a ton, but it works, so why would I replace it with a flat screen? Appliances? We REALLY need a new stove, dishwasher, and fridge. Our fridge was manufactured by RCA, if that gives you any idea of how old it is. It's a side by side, and the 2 veggie drawers don't really stay on the railings- they slide unevenly and try to fall off. The stove and dishwasher are equally old, each with its own problems. Here's MY problem, though: They all work! It seems incredibly wasteful to get rid of them "because" they look a bit shabby or have issues... they all still function reliably, so I can't bring myself to spend the money to replace them. I wear shirts that are 20 years old and have 3 nightgowns that I bought when I was pregnant... and DD turned 23 last fall! Anyhow... you get my drift; I just can't bring myself to discard functioning items or replace them just because I want something newer.

I'm with you in many ways - although not because I am so much cheap, but more because I don't think we need new stuff just because there is a newer version of the something out there. Our consumerist society has gotten out of hand. And while improved energy efficiency is nice, I'm not sure that overcomes all the environmental impacts caused by over-manufacturing, and all the extra stuff that ends up in landfills as a result of our over-buying. I prefer to use stuff until it's life is done, THEN replace with a good quality replacement that will have it's own good life span. So like you, my TV is an old tube TV. When it dies I'll get a new one, but until then, it stays.

But your sofa - um, yeah. Time for a new one. It has lived it's life, time to let it go! LOL

 

[joannamet]

Cleaning supplies. Sometimes I have to remind myself to keep every bathroom in the house stocked with duplicate cleaning supplies so I'm not carrying them around upstairs and down.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Cleaning supplies. Sometimes I have to remind myself to keep every bathroom in the house stocked with duplicate cleaning supplies so I'm not carrying them around upstairs and down.

This is another example that would make my life easier. Probably $10 worth of supplies. I'm making a list of ideas I've gotten here.

 

[QueenIsabella]

Yes, I just got it confirmed this weekend, so this is all very new. I have been doing a ton of reading but will definitely take you up on the budget and babies chat offer when I have questions, which I am sure I will have tons. I am lucky that DH and I have already been setting aside money each month (we did IVF, so this has been a long process) so I think we are already ahead of the game. And now that it is official, we plan to start doubling the money we are saving each month.

And as far as underbuying vs. overbuying for a baby, there are definitely things that I don't want to underbuy but then other things I want to be careful not to overbuy either. Sewing is my hobby, so I plan to make a lot of the baby clothes over the next several months in sizes all the way up to 12 months. I also want to do cloth diapers, but you usually need to have newborn size and then infant size. I plan to sew enough newborn size diapers to get me through the first month and then just put the infant size diapers on my baby registry, since those last a lot longer and I will need more of them. Also I signed up for a Friends to Friends sale in May, thinking that maybe I can find some great items gently used to save some money. DH thought that sounds like a great idea and said he would go with me to the sale.

I'm a sewer, too, but I suggest you give this more consideration. Babies outgrow things very quickly, so their stuff is gently used at best. You can buy clothes (and other items) for pennies on the dollar at consignment stores, yard sales, and thrift stores. I bought a dozen cloth diapers for $1 at a church sale! By all means, make a special outfit or two, and you can make nursery items easily. But generally, you're going to find nearly-new (or even NWT) clothing for less than $1 per item shopping the secondhand circuit. Save your money for stuff like cribs and carseats (secondhand can be dicey for these items). Some things I did sew for my children included quilts, wall hangings, changing pad covers, organizers, and so forth. And Halloween costumes! (I tend to waste all the money I saved on other stuff, buying the perfect fabric for a killer Halloween costume).

 

[joannamet]

Ha. I've thought of a whole bunch of examples of this. Right now I'm using my computer at the soccer fields while my daughter has practice. I've never done this before because there's no wifi. Silly me! My Verizon plan includes mobile hotspot free. I've just never used it before. I brought my phone and my laptop and in half a minute I had internet access in my car.

 

[joannamet]

By all means, make a special outfit or two, and you can make nursery items easily. But generally, you're going to find nearly-new (or even NWT) clothing for less than $1 per item shopping the secondhand circuit. Save your money for stuff like cribs and carseats (secondhand can be dicey for these items). Some things I did sew for my children included quilts, wall hangings, changing pad covers, organizers, and so forth. And Halloween costumes! (I tend to waste all the money I saved on other stuff, buying the perfect fabric for a killer Halloween costume).

This is one of my husband's favorite memes:

 

[KarenAylwood]

This is another example that would make my life easier. Probably $10 worth of supplies. I'm making a list of ideas I've gotten here.

Yes! I started this when we moved. I have a big basket of cleaning supplies in our laundry room (upstairs) that I use for upstairs only. It's made life a lot easier and cleaner. If there's a mess in my son's bathroom I'm more apt to clean it up quickly with the supplies right there as well!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I'm a sewer, too, but I suggest you give this more consideration. Babies outgrow things very quickly, so their stuff is gently used at best. You can buy clothes (and other items) for pennies on the dollar at consignment stores, yard sales, and thrift stores. I bought a dozen cloth diapers for $1 at a church sale! By all means, make a special outfit or two, and you can make nursery items easily. But generally, you're going to find nearly-new (or even NWT) clothing for less than $1 per item shopping the secondhand circuit. Save your money for stuff like cribs and carseats (secondhand can be dicey for these items). Some things I did sew for my children included quilts, wall hangings, changing pad covers, organizers, and so forth. And Halloween costumes! (I tend to waste all the money I saved on other stuff, buying the perfect fabric for a killer Halloween costume).

I definitely won't be making all of the clothes, but I do have plans to make more than 1-2 outfits. I also plan to make some of the other items you suggest. A quilt, organizer baskets, crib bedding, car seat cover, crinkly fabric toys, fabric rattle and other items. I have been buying up some nice knit fabrics in neutral colors from Facebook groups for a little while. Getting several yards of high quality knit fabric for $4/yard will be plenty cost effective I think.

I have made baby clothes for friends before and I have found it very gratifying. So much faster than sewing something for myself!

 

[QueenIsabella]

This is one of my husband's favorite memes:

View attachment 218964

I am so guilty of this! In my quasi-defense, I have 4 kids. They share a lot of things. Because of that, I try to make birthdays, Christmas, and Halloween costumes special and all about the individual child.

Jen and Ashwin--If making baby clothes brings you joy, by all means--make them, enjoy them, and don't sweat the cost. I could easily buy my children costumes for 1/4 the price, and a whole lot easier than making them. BTW, Hobby Lobby has patterns for $0.99 this week, if you happen to be near one...

 

[MrInfinity]

Gadgets people don't buy but would make their life better or easier?

* Outlet splitter for that spot where you always have to unplug one device and plug in another. $5
* Extension cord to reroute that cord that keeps getting kicked out. $3
* Power strips with built in USB chargers and, short USB cables to leave in them. No more looking for chargers. $16
* 2 bottles of ibuprophen. No more going up or down stairs to get things you'll go through eventually. $8
* An extra cable remote. $5
* Enough laundry baskets to have one in every kids' room. $5ea
* Replace key outlets by hallways and stairs with outlets that have nightlights. Never fall out or get lost again. $15ea
* Flashlights and candles for when the power goes out, plus working lighters. $20
* A small generator. So when the power goes out you don't lose your food. $100
* One old-school non-cell, non-cordless phone for when the power goes out. $12

I could go on and on. These are all practical things every house with kids should have.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I am so guilty of this! In my quasi-defense, I have 4 kids. They share a lot of things. Because of that, I try to make birthdays, Christmas, and Halloween costumes special and all about the individual child.

Jen and Ashwin--If making baby clothes brings you joy, by all means--make them, enjoy them, and don't sweat the cost. I could easily buy my children costumes for 1/4 the price, and a whole lot easier than making them. BTW, Hobby Lobby has patterns for $0.99 this week, if you happen to be near one...

Thanks, not a fan of Hobby Lobby, but Joann's runs similar promotions often. There are some maternity clothing patterns that I want to pick up. I also have lots of indie kids clothing patterns that my friend is letting me borrow. I feel like I am going to need to invest in more Swedish tracing paper.

 

[eeyoresmom]

Well, I decided to put my money where my mouth is, almost literally. Just went to Walmart and bought duplicate cleaning supplies for the upstairs bathroom, another phone charger and an extension cord that will allow me to put that charger where it really should be. $39 well spent. My other identified underbuying is duplicate makeup for the beach house. I will wait and inventory what I have there and fill in the gaps. No more making my life harder than it has to be, I have the money, sheesh . Although in my defense, the underbuyer just doesn't think to buy the items, not make a conscious decision not to. I guess I just have to be more aware of what frustrations could be easily solved by making a purchase.

 

[MomToOne]

My other identified underbuying is duplicate makeup for the beach house. I will wait and inventory what I have there and fill in the gaps. No more making my life harder than it has to be, I have the money, sheesh .

I started buying a separate set of makeup and other toiletries just for my travel makeup bag a few years ago. Best. Decision. Ever.

Well, maybe that's a bit of an overstatement, but I really am happy I started doing it - it allows me to pre-pack my luggage and not have to fuss about throwing things in there the last few minutes before heading out the door for a trip (and inevitably forget something in the process).

 

[eeyoresmom]

Yup, I do that now. Can't pack it until the very last second. I travel several times a year too. Guess I'll get a triplicate set of makeup!

 

[havaneselover]

I am the same way...use it until it wears out. I did splurge on a Roomba recently though. That $350 purchase (from Costco with a coupon) has been life changing. I highly recommend getting a Roomba to everyone I meet!

We got my mom the one from Costco for Christmas. She named her Hazel. Hazel has been in time out for eating my mom's curtains but she's very powerful and picks up so much.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I'm not, but DH and I were just talking about this yesterday. We have a lot of friends who have small children but only one carseat, in one car, for that child. They can afford to put a carseat in all of their cars, they just don't. It leads to lots of "Ugh, I took the wrong car and now I have to drive home and switch out cars with DH so he can do childcare pickup today." type situations. We were wondering why they don't just buy another carseat - especially for kids who are in low-back boosters, because those aren't expensive. It would save time, frustration, and gas money.

I underbuy a lot of stuff but this is one thing we don't do. Before we brought DS home, we had saved cashback from Discovercard for a while. Used a bunch of it to buy Bed, Bath & Beyond gift cards which work at Bye Bye Baby. Got 2 20% off coupons to use with the gift cards for 2 Britax car seats. DH currently has a cheaper car seat in his car because whenever we go out as a family, we use my car but DH needs one to drop DS at school

 

[KarenAylwood]

We got my mom the one from Costco for Christmas. She named her Hazel. Hazel has been in time out for eating my mom's curtains but she's very powerful and picks up so much.

That's hilarious. My neighbor got one on Black Friday and named it Hazel too! I named mine Rebecca. Even my toddler calls her that. She hasn't eaten anything she shouldn't have other than one charger (that we fished out unharmed). Literally the best gift I've ever gotten. DH says she's worth twice what my mom paid for her.

I guess vacuums are something that I don't underbuy. I have a Dyson for carpets, a stick vac for the bathrooms and basement, and a roomba for hardwoods/daily downstairs. All of them have made my life SO. MUCH. BETTER.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

We got my mom the one from Costco for Christmas. She named her Hazel. Hazel has been in time out for eating my mom's curtains but she's very powerful and picks up so much.

That's hilarious. My neighbor got one on Black Friday and named it Hazel too! I named mine Rebecca. Even my toddler calls her that. She hasn't eaten anything she shouldn't have other than one charger (that we fished out unharmed). Literally the best gift I've ever gotten. DH says she's worth twice what my mom paid for her.

I guess vacuums are something that I don't underbuy. I have a Dyson for carpets, a stick vac for the bathrooms and basement, and a roomba for hardwoods/daily downstairs. All of them have made my life SO. MUCH. BETTER.

We call ours Ruby! Ruby sometimes stays out all night and never makes it home (to her base). We occasionally have to put out an APB to find her. She really likes to hide out under the entertainment center, so that's the first place I look!

 

[mercydisney]

I sometimes wish I was an underbuyer. I have a couple of bottles of everything! At the time I buy them they re on sale and I figure if i run out I do not have to go run out and buy them. That is a good idea right? Well not if you have enough that can last you for years!