The other day, my husband and I bought a couple of sweets at a gourmet pastry shop in our town. While in the shop, a woman came in, looked at the offerings and the prices, and announced that the items were too expensive. After all, she could get “the same thing” at a local superstore for much, much less.

 

Except, she couldn’t.

 

On our way home, my husband and I discussed the merits of the pastry shop. Yes, we could probably head over to the superstore and get a package of five to 10 mass-produced bakery items for less than half the price of one of the treats at the shop. But, to me, that’s a clear case of “getting what you pay for.” The made-by-hand, and made-that-morning, pastry at the shop was more than worth the premium paid for it. It was made using fresh fruit, real sugar (no infusion of high fructose corn syrup), and had that flaky, delicious crust that just can’t be mass-produced.

This got me thinking that sometimes it really is worth it to pay more for some things. You might not agree that the pastry is worth the premium – food may not be your thing. However, you might feel it’s worth it to pay a little more to get a top-notch picture on your TV screen. Think about what’s important to you; is it worth it to pay more to enjoy a better experience, or get a higher quality product?

Higher Quality: Pay Less in the Long Run

Of course, my pastry example focused on an experience. I love good food, and it’s worth it to me to pay more for a treat that is tastier. I don’t care about having more pastries; I’d rather have one outstanding pastry than five mediocre pastries. So I’ll pay a little more. Sometimes, though, it’s about paying more up front to save over the long haul.

If you know that you will need something to last, it might be worth it to spend a little more up front. It will save you from needing to buy more later. My favorite example is my husband’s shoes. Some people think we’re crazy to spend $100 a pair on his shoes. He walks a lot, though, and high quality shoes last him at least 18 months (his current pair have actually lasted almost three years). However, a $45 pair of shoes only lasts six months. That means that in 18 months, we would spend $135 on shoes – costing us more in the long run. Shelling out a little more up front for better shoes saves us more in the long run.

Carefully consider the quality of the item, and think about whether or not it might benefit you more in the long term to pay a little more up front. It can save you a lot of hassles – and money. Create a lifestyle fund that can help you pay extra for better experiences, and better quality items. That way, you will be able to afford the premium that sometimes comes with better products and services.