Used to just throw a cheap tarp over my patio furniture every winter, but after replacing it for the 4th time in 3 years I finally spent $120 on a proper cover from the hardware store last fall and it still looks new.

That flimsy blue tarp would rip in the first windstorm every single time, now I just wipe the snow off and don't worry about it, anyone else hold onto cheap solutions way longer than they should?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin1d ago

I saw a study once that said the average person spends about 30% more over five years buying cheap versions of things they replace constantly, which basically means we're paying extra to be annoyed. @ray613 nailed it with the shoe and tool example because I did the same thing with cheap drills until I finally bought a decent one that's still going strong after 4 years. The tarp thing hits close too because I tried using those blue tarps for a few seasons and they'd split right at the grommets, making me wonder why I didn't just get a proper cover sooner. It's like we all know deep down that cheap stuff costs more in the end but we still grab it because the upfront number looks better on the receipt. Have you looked into any good covers that have a warranty, or do you mostly rely on luck at this point?

ray6131d ago

It's funny how we treat cheap stuff as disposable but end up spending more in the long run. That same mindset kind of applies to everything, like buying cheap shoes or tools and replacing them twice as often as one good pair.

skyler_johnson321d agoMost Upvoted

Does that mean investing in cheap stuff is actually smarter if you lose tools a lot?