Frugal or Extravagant?
#21
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Enid, OK
Posts: 8,273
I don't consider buying quality products to be extravagant. I bought a 45 mm rotary cutter (Olfa) in 1994. Still using it. The cheapo rotary cutter that I was given as a door prize broke in 2 years (and it was only used at Quilter's Night Out!). On the other hand, some of you go through a LOT of blades, so it makes sense that you might make do with adequate. Pay attention though on how often you change blades vs. the brand name.
I go round and round with my Mom on this stuff, but the fact is, if I can't get good quality, I don't buy it at all. Saves me money to buy other nonsense (like my fairly new Itouch that is sucking up all my quilting time).
I go round and round with my Mom on this stuff, but the fact is, if I can't get good quality, I don't buy it at all. Saves me money to buy other nonsense (like my fairly new Itouch that is sucking up all my quilting time).
#22
I give Gingher scissors as wedding gifts. The bride my look at it strange but when she needs scissors for any job and they perform great time after time she'll realize what a great gift it really was. I use Ginger scissors as household scissors and my sewing scissors are left alone. I've never paid more the $20 for Gingher scissors since internet shopping!
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: central indiana
Posts: 686
I am frugal to the max when it comes to fabric. This does not mean walmart or double knits but does mean garage sales, estate sales, guild sales, and auctions. I also let my friends know to pass me the fabric and scraps they don't want rather than tossing them. I have even gone thru the trash at retreats to collect great fabric and selvages that were thrown out.
We are lucky here to have a large city with a lot of quilters who all love fabric. About four times a year or so, there is a fabulous sale of some kind that results in lots of interesting fabric. Since i am not all about matching fabrics and like to try mixing up and scrap quilts, this is great.
Right now I am waiting on a phone call from a gal that had a garage sale in the spring and called me to tell me she was having another. The great part is that she is a fabric representative for two companies and handles four states. She gets all kinds of fabric in precuts, packages of fat quarters, yardage, etc. and cannot use it all. She remembered me and wanted me to know. Hey, high end fabric at $3 per yard beats any shop around (except the wholesalers) and she has current stock. I got 60+ bright coordinated fat quarters for $36.
I told her about our charity quilt making for a residential children's home and she is going to give me her excess boy fabric for these quilts. She is great.
Someone here sent me a big box of scraps of kid prints for the cost of postage and I got enough for 3 or 4 (maybe more) twin sized quilts of wonderful colorful fabric once I cut it up.
We are lucky here to have a large city with a lot of quilters who all love fabric. About four times a year or so, there is a fabulous sale of some kind that results in lots of interesting fabric. Since i am not all about matching fabrics and like to try mixing up and scrap quilts, this is great.
Right now I am waiting on a phone call from a gal that had a garage sale in the spring and called me to tell me she was having another. The great part is that she is a fabric representative for two companies and handles four states. She gets all kinds of fabric in precuts, packages of fat quarters, yardage, etc. and cannot use it all. She remembered me and wanted me to know. Hey, high end fabric at $3 per yard beats any shop around (except the wholesalers) and she has current stock. I got 60+ bright coordinated fat quarters for $36.
I told her about our charity quilt making for a residential children's home and she is going to give me her excess boy fabric for these quilts. She is great.
Someone here sent me a big box of scraps of kid prints for the cost of postage and I got enough for 3 or 4 (maybe more) twin sized quilts of wonderful colorful fabric once I cut it up.
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Small town in Northeast Oregon close to Washington and Idaho
Posts: 2,795
I always buy the best of everything. I tried Walmart fabric, but ended up giving it to a second hand store because it felt so stiff and horrible. I don't buy anything at all from Walmart. Nothing for the household. I buy from LQS for my sewing and good online stores also. I tried Harbor Frieght blades and they skipped something fierce, so I learned my lesson there. I'm not a snob at all. I just don't want to waste my money on crappy stuff when I can pay a little more and get really nice quality things that will last. Also, the fabric from Walmart...I would have been embarrassed to make a quilt out of that and give it to someone. My Walmart sells the worst fabric. I know there are other Walmart's that sell better fabric, so don't think I'm bashing all Walmarts, just mine.
#25
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
Frugality rules, so long as I don't sacrifice quality ... the quality I need vs. overbuying a higher end quality, that is perhaps beyond my forseeable needs.
Top of the line purchases are important to me, only if they offer what I need, and there is not an alternate suitable choice.
Buying the "best" of something doesn't necessarily give me a better end product or end use, than a lesser brand name. And yes, sometimes buying "the name" is important as it is truly The Best! I try to balance how important is the best, vs. what is good enough.
I guess you can call me a blend of ... "Buyer Beware" and "Shop Wisely"!!
Top of the line purchases are important to me, only if they offer what I need, and there is not an alternate suitable choice.
Buying the "best" of something doesn't necessarily give me a better end product or end use, than a lesser brand name. And yes, sometimes buying "the name" is important as it is truly The Best! I try to balance how important is the best, vs. what is good enough.
I guess you can call me a blend of ... "Buyer Beware" and "Shop Wisely"!!
#26
On this date two years ago, I bought a 2 series Bernina right before they went to the 3 series, purchased 2 pairs of gingher scissors, a olfa rotary cutter and a cutting mat. I have taken at least 8 classes and today I finished my first quilt ever. It is a wall hanging and it is about 3 feet x 3 feet. I have several works in progress and all stages.
Currently I have working on machine quilting another wall hanging, that I started in a quilting class I took last year. I love quilting it is sort of like vegetable garden.
You can invest a lot of money in gardening tools and plants, seeds etc. but in the end it is the love and care that makes it a vegetable garden.
Currently I have working on machine quilting another wall hanging, that I started in a quilting class I took last year. I love quilting it is sort of like vegetable garden.
You can invest a lot of money in gardening tools and plants, seeds etc. but in the end it is the love and care that makes it a vegetable garden.
#27
Power Poster
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,654
I should have worded the original question better.
I have finally learned - that for appliances, etc. that much of the time the best value for us is in the 40-75% range - not the top of the line, not the bottom of the line, but around the middle of the line.
Sometimes all the bells and whistles are just too complex for me to figure out. Sometimes those seem to be the first things to fail. A lot of the time it's the budget that says: This is what you can afford. Deal with it.
I have finally learned - that for appliances, etc. that much of the time the best value for us is in the 40-75% range - not the top of the line, not the bottom of the line, but around the middle of the line.
Sometimes all the bells and whistles are just too complex for me to figure out. Sometimes those seem to be the first things to fail. A lot of the time it's the budget that says: This is what you can afford. Deal with it.
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Missouri
Posts: 4,061
It is fortunate that you can order from the internet ... maybe not feel or touch the items before sale, but still an effective method.
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: At my LQS
Posts: 2,326
Sewing and quilting is my hobby and should be fun and not an exercise in frustration so quality matters. I really believe in having quality tools, ie. sewing machine, notions, and fabric. In the same breath...I love a bargain too. I use coupons whenever possible and watch for sales to get the best for less.
I also save in other areas. I'd venture a guess that I have fewer clothes and shoes than most women. In addition, I save a cosiderable amount of money on food. Again, I stock up on things when they are on sale and make use of coupons. I cook and rarely use convenience foods.
In years past I had to shop price before quality. Today, our budget is larger, but old habits die hard so I always try to get the best for the best price. Quality doesn't have to break the bank...you just need to hunt a bit.
I also save in other areas. I'd venture a guess that I have fewer clothes and shoes than most women. In addition, I save a cosiderable amount of money on food. Again, I stock up on things when they are on sale and make use of coupons. I cook and rarely use convenience foods.
In years past I had to shop price before quality. Today, our budget is larger, but old habits die hard so I always try to get the best for the best price. Quality doesn't have to break the bank...you just need to hunt a bit.
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