# Cheap vs not cheap **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 19, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972 "2010-05-19T04:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/21 "2010-05-20T14:25:14Z")
Not cheap: Most kitchen & cooking implements (knives, pots & pans, peelers, can openers, etc) Coffee, wine, beer. Cheap: as mentioned above, OTC drugs cooking wine shirts, T and otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/22 "2010-05-20T14:42:14Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Some store brands are much lower in quality, and some are the same or better. As much as I hate WalMart, I have to admit that their version of Tucks is even better than the name brand. And I also prefer their version of SlimFast. My husband likes WalMart, so I don’t have to shop there if I don’t want to, I just put stuff on the “dry goods” list (dry goods is basically anything that isn’t really groceries). I’ve had some decent experiences with other store brand items, too. But my family has a very distinct preference for name brand spaghetti sauce, and mac and cheese, and cold cereal. I’m usually willing to experiment with a store brand, if it comes in a reasonably sized package. I also prefer their bottled water (though I don’t even buy that anymore) and their Sam’s Cola is better than Coca Cola, but, since I’ve not seen a caffeine free version, I can’t get any. As for the actual question: all can come up with is the aforementioned toilet paper (though I do get it on sale) and laundry detergent due to allergies. Anything else, I usually go with cheap, and only get name brands if they are on sale (or I know where I can get a deal) with the occasional splurge. Oh, and I’ll usually buy real Oreos, although that is a splurge thing as mentioned above, not only for money reasons, but because I tend to lose a bit of self-control over them. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/23 "2010-05-20T14:46:33Z")
Oh, the other thing that’s perfectly fine when it is cheap is sparkling water. Tesco sell an own-brand 2ltr bottle for 11p…yes, 11p. And it is absolutely fine. It is sparkling and it is water. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/24 "2010-05-20T16:14:53Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Oh, the other thing that’s perfectly fine when it is cheap is sparkling water. I make my own. Usually. Where I’m at currently, I have to pay actual money, and that hurts when you’re used to getting it practically for free. Fine to buy Cheap: Frozen veggies Baking ingredients except chocolate and cocoa Power tools (low duty cycle, good enough for my use, cheap here meaning simply “not professional”) Not fine: Tires for automobiles Clothes of virtually any kind Paint for houses Breakfast cereal Steaks Fish ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/25 "2010-05-20T16:33:56Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > I make my own. Usually. Where I’m at currently, I have to pay actual money, and that hurts when you’re used to getting it practically for free. > Fine to buy Cheap: > Frozen veggies > Baking ingredients except chocolate and cocoa > Power tools (low duty cycle, good enough for my use, cheap here meaning simply “not professional”) > > Not fine: > Tires for automobiles > Clothes of virtually any kind > Paint for houses > Breakfast cereal > Steaks > Fish You mean that you make your own sparkling water? I have never heard of such a thing. I’d love to know how you do that. If you think it would not be of general interest, please feel free to respond in a Private Message. Also, I would like to add to the list of things that I would not buy cheap are car batteries. Specifically, if you live in a climate that usually has a strong winter, there is no economy in skimping on a car battery. One solid winter freeze and you require a tow, or a new block heater or even worse. The very best car bettery does not cost all that much more than a cheap one. Certainly not even the price of a tow. You mention car tires. One reason skimping on car tires makes no sense is that the only thing between your car and the road are four tiny squares of rubber on the bottom of your tires. One bad tire and you risk all the expense and injury of an accident. That surely is not worth paying even double for the best tires - especially since your health - even your life - hangs in the balance. Car brakes are probably another good example of something not worth skimping on. I would say there are 3 things related to automobiles that are not worth skimping - tires, batteries and brakes. As a matter of fact, you could probably start a whole new thread concerning cars. Like about the importance of regular oil changes and changing the filter every time you change the oil. It’s not a large expense but it’s amazing how most people have no idea of what’s involved in this. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/26 "2010-05-20T16:40:16Z")
> [@Joanie](#): > > You mean that you make your own sparkling water? > > I have never heard of such a thing. I’d love to know how you do that. Probably with one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/iSi-Soda-Siphon-Quart-Black/dp/B00007JXR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1274373559&sr=1-1). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/27 "2010-05-20T17:03:26Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Costco’s Kirkland brand is one of the best in the country, IMO. Stater Bros. Honey Ohs are just the same as Honey Nut Cheerios, at half the price. The list goes on. I’ve done side-by-side comparisons, and 90% of the time the store brands are just as good if not better. YMobviouslyV. It may just depend on _which store’s_ store brand we’re talking about. My 2 year old can tell the difference between Kraft mac n’ cheese and Food Lion’s in the first bite or two. Not that he knows which box his mac came out of, but he can damned sure tell which he likes and which he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/28 "2010-05-20T17:10:21Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Probably with one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/iSi-Soda-Siphon-Quart-Black/dp/B00007JXR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1274373559&sr=1-1). Doing it that way is not all that cheap. The CO2 Cartridges are $.70 to $1 each. They make about 1 liter of sparkling water. You need a cheaper source of C02 to make it cost effective. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/29 "2010-05-20T17:43:23Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It may just depend on _which store’s_ store brand we’re talking about. > > My 2 year old can tell the difference between Kraft mac n’ cheese and Food Lion’s in the first bite or two. Not that he knows which box his mac came out of, but he can damned sure tell which he likes and which he doesn’t. I came here to agree with this. Costco doesn’t really count because they take high quality ingredients, often from the brand name manufacturers, and have them packaged under the house brand name (Kirkland). I am almost 100% certain the the Kirkland brand vodka is exactly the same as Grey Goose, and I have taste tested them side-by-side. On the other hand the house brand of anything at Price Chopper is definitely of lower quality, taste, texture and appearance-wise than the national brand, even counting frozen veggies. Lots of ends, hard, unripe pieces and unripened, less flavorful chunks in the house brand that rarely show up in the national brand. Not all house brands are created equal. Never buy cheap: toilet paper, “sippin’” alcohol, laundry detergent, bath soap, soda (pop), jeans (unless you consider Levi’s cheap), shoes. Always buy cheap: most food staples are the same, regardless of the brand. I agree with most of the other posters in this respect. ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/30 "2010-05-20T18:29:39Z")
To gazpacho and silenus, Thanks for the lead. I had never realized such a thing was possible. I will search a little more about it now. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/31 "2010-05-20T18:45:55Z")
I’m always bewildered when people say not to go cheap on toilet paper. Do you know what I’m going to _do_ with it? And I’ve never had any problems. Of course, cheap around these parts means Publix store brand, and Publix store brand anything is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/32 "2010-05-20T19:05:54Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > Doing it that way is not all that cheap. The CO2 Cartridges are $.70 to $1 each. They make about 1 liter of sparkling water. You need a cheaper source of C02 to make it cost effective. Precisely. That yields expensive carbonated water, and it’s not all that good because not enough CO2 goes into solution. Instead, I use one of [these](http://www.beersmith.com/Co2_tank.jpg) (in a 20 lb version), one of [these](http://morebeer.com/images/thumb/phpThumb.php?src=/product_images/morebeer.com/1/1318.jpg), and some intermediate hoses, fittings, and manifolds. It’s a natural offset of my homebrewing hobby. I’ve also experimented with making my own syrup for soda-pop. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/33 "2010-05-20T20:26:43Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > 😕 Do you mean chargers to use with standard 120V wall outlets? Those aren’t just plugs, they’re transformers. > > And I don’t know that I’ve _ever_ had one wear out; I can’t recall buying one except with a new phone. I guess, but still, I just have a prejudice against such a simple standard electrical thing costing more than $5 Mine wears out pretty much every six months, not the electrical components, but rather the part that plugs in stops making a good connection. I assume the metal wears off such that it becomes too skinny for the hole. > [@emcee2k](#): > > Define cheap. Chintzy, or inexpensive? I understand that some times you have to pay more to get a decent product, but I don’t really look at a higher price tag as a guarantee of higher quality. Fine such that you automatically buy whichever one costs the least and this is never an issue. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’m always bewildered when people say not to go cheap on toilet paper. Do you know what I’m going to _do_ with it? And I’ve never had any problems. It may be that there’s a cheap brand out there that works fine. Or you might just have perfect poop and a small, non hairy ass. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/34 "2010-05-20T20:40:12Z")
Well, that’s true. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/35 "2010-05-20T20:47:02Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’m always bewildered when people say not to go cheap on toilet paper. Do you know what I’m going to _do_ with it? And I’ve never had any problems. > > Of course, cheap around these parts means Publix store brand, and Publix store brand anything is pretty good. If the toilet paper shreds, is non-absorbent, causes chafing, or even bleeding, then I don’t care HOW cheap it is, it’s not doing its job. Toilet paper needs to be soft, absorbent, and non-irritating. Yes, it’s DEFINITELY a one use item, but it needs to do its job. If I have a piece of sandpaper in one hand, and a piece of cheap toilet paper in the other hand, I should be able to tell the difference just by feel. I have come across cheap toilet paper that has SPLINTERS in it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/36 "2010-05-20T20:49:12Z")
I never skimp on alcohol, even for mixing. I can taste rotgut vodka (for instance Smirnoff’s :)) in a drink versus Ketel 1 or Belvedere. It’s still cheaper than good beer or wine per oz of alcohol (okay, maybe not the Belvedere). Skimp on: pencils and pens. I have a Cross pen that hasn’t run out of ink in over 10 years, but I will not buy more of them because I lose pens so often. I always lose a pencil or pen before it can run out of ink or lead. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/37 "2010-05-20T20:53:15Z")
Fine to buy cheap: flour, sugar, workout watches, diapers (as long as they’re Costco brand) and wipes, everyday jewelry (i.e., stuff that doesn’t need to be “real”) Not fine: mattresses, coffee, work clothes, bras, shoes, good cheeses ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/38 "2010-05-20T21:25:54Z")
I have found out the hard way that there is always such a think as too cheap. With that in mind, here is my cheap list: Hand sanitizer - They are all basically alcohol, but don’t compromise on the smell. Pens - I always grab a handful of free pens at TD Bank. Graphic Cards - When buying a computer I get the cheapest possible because I don’t need to play PC games. Books - As long as I can read the pages they’re good. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/39 "2010-05-20T21:35:33Z")
> [@Joanie](#): > > To gazpacho and silenus, > > Thanks for the lead. I had never realized such a thing was possible. I will search a little more about it now. you can use the soda siphon for making your own [flavored waters and sodas](http://prairiemoon.biz/homemadesoda.html), which is what my mom does. Did you know you can also [brew your own sodas](http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2004-12-01/Brew-Soda-at-Home.aspx)? ---
**Author:** ![Joanie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@Joanie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972/40 "2010-05-20T22:53:00Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Graphic Cards - When buying a computer I get the cheapest possible because I don’t need to play PC games. Given that you don’t need to play PC games, don’t you still need to use some of the basic Windows tools? Such as Windows Explorer? Or Outlook Express? Those things use some very basic graphics to display icons and other basic uses of graphics. It seems to me that most PCs for sale these days all have some built-in cheap graphics card and if you can find one that doesn’t, it should still satisy your needs without your having to pay for an extra graphics card. But I’m not 100 percent certain about this and I’d like to hear from someone who knows for sure. Is it possible to buy a PC without a graphics card? And if so, will it fail to work if you don’t buy some kind of extra graphics card? I would have thought that even the most basic PC without any graphics card will still provide you with the capability to display text using a CMD window and to display some limited graphics when using Windows Explorer. Even the most basic mode of operation in Windows - displaying the desktop - requires some use of graphics to display icons. Doesn’t it? Does anyone know for sure? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheap-vs-not-cheap/539972.md?page=3)