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The_Dead_See t1_j9bxq61 wrote

Took me years to learn that for certain items (especially footware), the bifl option is the frugal option. I spent years going through crappy $30-50 trainers and boots at the rate of about a pair every year. Then one year, I decided to treat myself and got a $200 pair and they lasted over 8 years... doing the math that's significantly cheaper per year than I was paying before.

My general rule is buy as high end as you can afford for anything that goes between you and the ground (so footwear, car tires, furniture, socks, etc.) and you'll be a happy camper.

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Sefren1510 t1_j9bz1pw wrote

For tools it's always been buy the cheapest version then buy the BIFL option if it breaks. If a cheap version is all you need to do the work you're going to do with it, it's no point going with the expensive version. It probably applies pretty well to most items.

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glassteelhammer t1_j9bzlwf wrote

Replying to The_Dead_See (#1,889,271)

Largely this.

You've touched on a few of my favorite little aphorisms.

Buy nice, or buy twice.

Always spend good money for anything that comes between you and the earth. Buy good tires, good sheets, and good shoes.

Another one for me is:

If you want something, buy the cheapest version of it you can find, and if you use it enough to break that, then go buy the expensive version.

​

In short, I try to just say no to buying things. But when I do buy something, I buy the best quality I can find.

​

I have a pair of boots that I had custom made for my feet. They cost me $800. They are the best shoes I have ever owned, They are going on 4 years, and will likely go for another decade. Well, well worth the money spent. If I get 15 years out of them, that's $53 per year. I spend more than that on impulse buys at registers.

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Lonely-Connection-37 t1_j9c211b wrote

Drive to the US find the closest red wings store by several pairs then drive back

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Quail-a-lot t1_j9c473o wrote

Small American brands always cost the moon here. I would try CanadaWest, which are out of Manitoba or Viberg out of Victoria, BC. CanadaWest is is what I would go with myself if they made my size (women's aren't wide enough, men's don't go small enough), very popular with my fellow farmers.

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PalmettoShark t1_j9c6fqo wrote

Buy the absolute best you can afford.. but NEVER pay full price. Wait for a big sale. Use discount codes.

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ScotchMalone t1_j9c764m wrote

One thing to remember specifically with high quality leather boots is to keep up with the maintenance. I personally have a pair of iron rangers I use for work so they've gotten a lot of use and if I slack off it will not work out in the long run.

One metric I use to decide if a price is right is to divide the expected lifetime of the thing by the cost. $800 Nick's vs $70 Converse: 20+ years (with proper care) vs 2 years (maybe?), So cost/yr is $40 vs $35 which makes the initial gut punch price much less painful but the remaining question is if you trust yourself to put in the effort to properly take care of the boots in a way you (or I for that matter) would care for a pair of Converse

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cracktop2727 t1_j9capio wrote

Replying to Sefren1510 (#1,889,388)

I hadn't heard this, but I like it. As someone getting really into crafting, this is kinda how my mindset has been shifting. Try if i like painting with crafter (cheap) paints, if I want to stick it out (or if I want to actually produce a high quality picture), artist quality paints and brushes.

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tradfletcher t1_j9cavoh wrote

Depending on how you feel about it (some people really don’t like the idea, and I understand that), second hand shoes can be a bargain. My every day shoes are a pair of Grenson double monks (£15) I’ve had for around 7 years and have resoled. My walking boots are a pair of Alt-berg (pretty sure they were unworn -£85), and I have pairs of Loake, Cheaney and Church’s, all of which were in very good condition and none of which cost more than £50.

People buy expensive things, and sometimes sell them because they don’t like the fit, or they were for one special occasion, and I pick up a bargain - set up alerts on eBay and you’ll know when they appear, or search more broadly in the hope that people haven’t listed them properly.

I know you’re specifically looking for boots in the US, but it might be a way of saving a considerable amount.

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hopkinsdoc t1_j9cdg5l wrote

Former co-worker of mine used to say, of purchasing quality, long-lasting products— Buy Once, Cry Once.

Other replies already cover the frugality aspect perfectly.

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Tinnisher t1_j9chmce wrote

Replying to The_Dead_See (#1,889,271)

I think about this EVERY time I put on my Red Wing boots. I was walking through $300/year in Nikes, Adidas, Skechers, Vans, Converse etc. etc. etc... Spent $300.00 on a pair of Red Wings; I'm good for the next decade.

Sometimes BIFL = Frugal

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WantonChrysanthemum t1_j9ck25t wrote

I stay frugal with eBay. Usually I can find what I want at a good price.

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omw_to_valhalla t1_j9cqu9p wrote

Replying to glassteelhammer (#1,889,442)

>If you want something, buy the cheapest version of it you can find, and if you use it enough to break that, then go buy the expensive version.

I really like this strategy.

The very expensive, highly durable product is the most frugal option only if it gets used regularly.

If you end up buying the primo option and don't use it, it was a waste of money.

Get a cheap one first. If you use it often enough to break it or get fed up with how poorly it works, then go for the good one.

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omw_to_valhalla t1_j9crcz5 wrote

Replying to tradfletcher (#1,890,572)

I love getting expensive stuff secondhand! You can get some killer deals.

I wanted to get a really good pair of dirt bike boots. They sell new for $600.

I stalked Craigslist and Offerup for a few weeks. Ended up finding a lightly used pair for $180!

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Sefren1510 t1_j9cvj6i wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,889,869)

If it's for your profession then that is a whole different animal. I'm talking personal, hobby work. I do some building and repair around the farm, inexpensive power tools have lasted for years. I found I use a few hand tools to point where they were degrading, so I got Klein versions of them, but there majority of the tools in the shed are bargain bin harbor freight.

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Quail-a-lot t1_j9cww6q wrote

Replying to Lonely-Connection-37 (#1,890,018)

It's two ferries (one very expensive) and still driving, plus an extra hotel stay due to ferry timing to get to the US from here even though I am technically within 200 km of the border...it's really not a quick day trip if you aren't in a border town. Even when I lived on the mainland, I lived in a part of Canada that just didn't have much on the US side.

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Quail-a-lot t1_j9cyil3 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,890,080)

Oh yeah, their website is something! The Moorby 2817 is basically a Canadian Iron Ranger. But they are pretty easy to find around here at least in work and safety stores or in larger farm n feed stores. Some leather shops geared to motorcyclists stock them too. Dayton is another to look for.

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LowGradePlayer t1_j9cz4hz wrote

Ask yourself this: have I ever worn out a pair of boots or shoes before, and if so joe long did it take.

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MathCrank t1_j9d4mqa wrote

Another tip… if you wear the same shoes every day, buy multiple pairs and rotate, the moisture will eat them up.

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Muncie4 t1_j9dfcb4 wrote

Red Wing is a brand. You do NOT buy a pair of Red Wing boots and assume they are BIFL as that's not how that works. They make a mix of $50 shitty boots and $500 BIFL boots, so by choosing the brand name alone is a sure way to waste money.

Everything at Nick's is BIFL, but you are going to pay for it.

And nobody here can help you on this topic as you are conclusion shopping. If you are a hipster who wants cool boots for street cred, there are other options. Replace hipster with molder, logger, hiker and other terms and more options appear.

0

Whisperingstones t1_j9dgsbf wrote

Buying one item for life is likely to be cheaper in the long run. I typically try to get the best / highest quality that is within my means.

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SaoDavi t1_j9dh51l wrote

There's a premium associated with luxury products that is strictly associated with brand recognition and brand cache.

You can often find smaller brands with comparable quality without having the upcharge for celebrity endorsements, tv commercials, golf tournaments, huge management overhead, pensions, etc.

You can get some good values there and even better ones on the secondary market.

This is especially true for clothing, mattresses, furniture, and similar items. Main drawback is that it requires you to gain a lot of knowledge in those areas so you can discern the gems from the junk.

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brainscreams t1_j9dj6ez wrote

Buy secondhand. Thrift shops, ebay, Poshmark, facebook marketplace, etc. There are so many options, online and in-person, to buy expensive things secondhand, and most of the time they are MUCH cheaper! A little searching and you can find a bargain for anything 😊

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