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DigsMagazine.com.
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the real
deal
getting the decorating most
from your dollar by
Yee-Fan Sun | 1
2 3
continued from page 2
go for
value, not just price
Getting a good deal isn't always about doling out the least amount of
cash. That $300 new sofa might seem like a fab price when you compare it
to the usual $800-plus that most furniture stores will ask for what
looks like the same, but chances are good that the budget version's not
just cheap, but cheaply made. It might look great and feel okay for a
year, maybe three if you're lucky, but before you know it, the cushions
will be sagging or the upholstery will be coming apart at the seams, or
worse, the frame will suddenly decide to call it quits. And you'll be
back where you started, shopping for another couch.
There are times when you'll do
just fine to go with the lowest-priced option, but when it comes to
items that will be getting a lot of use, you'll generally find it's much
wiser to spend a little more to get the better-made product. For most
folks, that'll mean the bed and the sofa, major appliances and
electronics - higher-ticket items that can last you a good long while
when they're solidly crafted. Estate sales and consignment shops are
another handy source for the smart shopper; both offer used goods that
are generally of much better quality, and in better condition, than
anything you can buy for the same amount new.
time is
money too
Price and quality are both key in the overall value equation, but
there's a third factor that you have to take into account as well: time.
As much as I get a kick out of scoring a really sweet price on a
purchase, I've never understand the folks who'll drive miles out of
their way just to get the gas that's a mere penny cheaper per gallon. Or
run around to five different supermarkets to gather their groceries in
order to get the very lowest prices possible on each item on their
shopping list. Bargain hunting inevitably involves an investment of
time, and at a certain point, the amount of money you save just isn't
made up by the number of hours you have to put in to do so. Don't let
your cheapskate urges lead you into wasting the undoubtedly precious
amount of free time you happen to have. If you find yourself faced with
a dining table set that you adore, that offers good value for its price
tag, and that you can reasonably afford, quit hemming and hawing and
just go for it.
In the end, the real worth of
an item isn't in its dollar amount, but in how much satisfaction it
ultimately gives you. Balance your head sense with your heart sense, and
every investment that you put into your new digs -- no matter how big or
small -- is sure to feel like a real deal.
o
check
out these related
articles:
secrets of the secondhand shopper | shopping
estate sales | shopping thrift
stores | begin the begin how
to start decorating
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