Through life as we grow we are ever changing. Our needs change in the smallest ways that effect what we do, what we use, and therefore what we buy.
Since I was about 13 denim jeans have been my choice of trouser, warm, comfortable, and fairly sturdy. In the last few years however my lifestyle has become more active, especially as a scout and a scout leader. One of the unfortunate results of this is that being active tends to result in holes in my jeans, in particular right in the middle of the crotch.
This has led me to reconsider the suitability of denim jeans for my lifestyle, although I have tried to mend my ripped pants, many pairs have already been thrown out. I have been led to believe that there is nothing like a new pair that won't rip in the first place.
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| Holes around the crotch |
I was gifted a $100 voucher for my birthday redeemable at Kathmandu, an outdoors retail store. I'd browsed the store previously and noticed they had a range of trousers for men and women ideal for tramping and other outdoors activities. I went in one day and grabbed a few pairs that looked like my size. I tried a few of them on and went back to ensure that I had the best fit for me; only for the store worker to tell me that they were women's pants. I thought this can't be right, they were regular black pants with no sign of being catered to women, but I checked and surely enough they were measured in size numbers 14, 16, 18... instead of the blokes sizes of S, M, L, XL ... I went back to the shelf and realized there were no remaining men's trousers.
This conflicted me a little bit. I knew that they fit me quite nicely, and I knew that if I couldn't tell the difference between men's and women's trousers no one else would. But I still knew that I was wearing women's pants, would this knowledge leave me feeling emasculated? I decided to buy them anyway. 3 pairs of pants for $90 was an absolute steal.
At the counter the worker told me I can always come back to change them if I feel uncomfortable wearing them. Even in that moment I had made up my mind and I knew I wouldn't return them; even now as I type this I am wearing them and they are as snug as ever without the slightest tear in them. My testicles are in tact too.
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| Kathmandu Womans Size 14. |
I have learnt to purchase good items that are suitable for my lifestyle that are going to last. These may cost a bit more than the cheaper alternative (I still keep an eye out for a sale though).
I still have old clothes, these are used when I do physical labouring work, gardening, painting, or exercise. Nobody cares how I present myself in any of these situations; and I don't care if my old clothes get ripped, dirty, or painted on.
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| Paint splattered clothing for my eyes only |
In my first year of university study my first big purchase was a decent DSLR camera (Cannon 550D), saving up a wee bit more money for a decent model of camera that would be sufficient throughout my studies and beyond. I'm still using it and it has no sign of giving up just yet.
Buying one expensive thing that will last a long time is far better than buying hundreds of cheap things that will break. In the long run it is more economical, and it is much more environmentally friendly.
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| Cheesy reflection shot |
I have always wanted to own a pair of doc martins boots, among my hip friends many have their own pair of docs which they purchased brand new; apparently the best way to buy something so valuable and personal. For me the opportunity came when a friend was selling his boots I seized the chance. $50 I had my own pair of docs, I had to grind down my own gradient to the shoes and find some new laces but now I own them and they fit me as any new pair would; with a bit of shoe polish they look brand new as well and none of my doc wearing friends know any different.
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| With a bit of Shoe polish they look brand new again. |
The list goes on and I can give you innumerable examples of when spending more is better than buying the cheap alternative. But each situation requires its own thought from you, the consumer.
I am a practical person. Spending more should result in a better product. I don't believe in spending more just for the status of investing in a brand, but I don't want to waste my pennies purchasing rubbish that is inevitably going to end up in landfill. I search for the reasonable middle ground. Practical lasting quality from a good product is what my money is worth.
