We work hard for our money and it’s nice to treat ourselves. But we also don’t want to feel like a fool when the item we purchased for $50 would have been just as good as the one for $4. So when should you splurge and when should you save? We spoke with professional shoppers and financial experts to learn their favorite and least favorite times to spend.
Splurge
A well-fitted blazer. “Nothing quite compares to the confidence I feel when I throw on a high-quality fabric,” says Joanna Faith Williams, a beauty and style blogger in New York. “It instantly ‘uplevels’ my look from professional to feeling like an ‘It Girl.’ ” Williams says that when she walks into an important meeting with her favorite blazer on, she feels like she has really earned her right to be there.
Mattress. Sleep deprivation can lead to many health issues, including increased risk of heart diseases, diabetes and depression — but a comfy mattress will help you get a better night’s sleep and is worth the splurge, says Logan Allec, a CPA, personal finance expert and owner of the personal finance blog Money Done Right. Purchasing a mattress priced between $700-$1,800 should work well, Allec says.
Personal dental care. Splurging on dental care saves you time, frustration and pricey dental bills, Allec says. For example, studies have shown that electric toothbrushes remove more plaque than manual toothbrushes, and many of them come with features like a timer to help you clean your teeth more efficiently.
High-quality workout gear. Your workout gear is going to be put through the wringer. Between the intense sweat, long-distance runs and laundry loads, your workout clothing needs to be high quality to keep up with you, says Madison Mith, an editor and chief at the customer review platform Bestcompany.com. “The long shelf life of your workout clothes will make it worth the extra money,” she says.
Outsourcing. This could be a housekeeper if you hate cleaning, meal delivery kits if you dread the grocery store, or opting for a lawn-mowing service, says Nathan Hamilton, cofounder of The Ascent, a subsidiary of the Motley Fool. “Spending money to buy your time back has been shown to have a more measurable impact on your happiness than any possessions you could acquire,” Hamilton says. If you’re getting professional services, it’s worth paying more to get help from someone with more qualifications and a stronger track record of success. Opting for the lowest-price lawyer, accountant or investment adviser could cost you a lot more down the line if you get subpar advice, he says.
Save
Expensive workout programs. There are plenty of gyms and online training that offer classes, equipment and exercise guides for an affordable price, Mith says. “Don’t feel the need to buy a $200 gym membership to a gym with all the bells and whistles when a $30 membership to a different gym could offer practically the same thing: a way to work out,” she says. The more money you spend on a membership doesn’t improve your odds of sweating more, as you’re in control of how much training and effort you put into your workout.
The latest cell phone. A costly new phone rarely works that much better than the older cheaper models, and there’s too much risk of breaking or losing a $1,000-plus phone since you’re carting it around with you daily, Hamilton says.
A fancy car. Not only does it come with a big initial price tag, but you’ll also pay more for insurance, repairs and gas — so you’ll waste cash for the entire time you have the car, Hamilton says.
An area rug. While it may be tempting to have a beautiful rug on display, the reality is that it will inevitably be trampled on and stained with spills from parties, pet accidents and muddy feet, says Lisa Torelli-Sauer, editor at Sensible Diggs, a website geared toward teaching people to make smart investments in their homes. “Save money and nerves by going with an attractive but less expensive area rug,” she says.
Fancy master-suite addition. According to Remodeling, this is the worst return on your investment out of all the renovation projects. The average cost of an upscale master-suite addition is $271,470 — but the return on investment is just 50 percent (so about half of what you put into the renovation). This would include adding space, bookcases, built-in storage, a fireplace, French doors and more (essentially, anything you might want in a high-end fancy suite). Instead, perhaps you could do a lower-end master-suite addition, which has a bigger bang for your buck.
Mora Vieytes
