Ahhh, but I’m a regular consumer of all things chocolate (including Swiss and Belgian) and I STILL think that Cadbury’s is the best chocolate in the world. Granted, Lindt and Tobler chocolate is very smooth, but just lacks that special something that a block of Cadbury Dairy-Milk has.
But I think I heard somewhere(??) that the Cadbury’s sold in Australia and NZ is different to the stuff sold o’seas. Maybe that accounts for the differences in our ‘taste’.
Anyway, back to the OP, some of my ‘things’ that are worth the extra money include ‘good’ cheese (like Greek fetta @ $18.00 per kilo vs the Danish crap @ $8.00), fresh pasta vs the usual dried stuff, and Blue Banner pickled onions vs Whatever Else is on the Supermarket Shelf. BBPO are about 3 times the price of the others, but well worth the financial investment!
I have my reasons for everything I buy, I couldn’t imagine substituting just anything. Experimenting is wonderful, but I just don’t get people who’ll buy any old thing, like one of my friends does. My ‘would rather do without than substitute cheaper’ list includes shoes (anything leather really), shampoo & conditioner, furniture, coffee, tea, bed linens, paint brushes, and a couple of extra degrees on the a/c so I don’t get sticky.
I’ll second the makeup thing, also skin lotion is another one that it pays to not skimp on.
Cheap brands are either too oily or don’t moisturize, or they smell terrible.
I usually like Bath & Body works Silk Effects (or a name to that nature), because it moisturizes, smells heavenly, and leaves a silky afterfeel on your skin. Yummy.
Coffee, and chocolate. I buy my coffee beans from a little shop in town, the owner’s husband is a retired fireman who got interested in the business (his wife’s) after his retirement.
He started traveling around the world in seach of the best “green” coffee beans. He purchased a roaster and ships the beans home and then roasts them here in the shop. Some of the coffee goes for $50+ a pound (which once in a while, like on my birthday, I’ll indulge in).
Mostly I buy the $15-$20 a pound estate type coffees.
Chocolate, it’s got to be rich, and either Ben and Jerry’s or Cadbury’s dark. OR the real German chocolate that my sister buys when she goes to Germany once a year.
Oh, and cheese, it’s got to be a fairly good brand, and NO cheese “food” like velveeta (BLECH).
While I won’t dispute the lousy fragrance, the Dept. of Consumer Affairs here in Australia (and their publication offshoot, ‘Choice’) did a study of various moisturisers and skin lotions a few years back. They found that there was no correlation whatsoever between price and quality, and that many of the higher-priced items were predominantly water-based, thus offering less in moisturising ability that a wet flannel couldn’t deliver.
The one they recommended in the end was an el-cheapo Sorbolene based moisturiser that was available in the local supermarket. It pissed the Estee Lauder and Clarins folk off something shocking!!
Bleah. Cadbury Fruit and Nut bars are a meal unto themselves.
For clothes, I’m forced to pay the extra money as I am a tall size. I reap the benefits as far as quality, however.
Soda is another one that is best bought in a national brand version. The same goes for potato chips; while I like Lay’s, I especially go for Cape Cod potato chips, especially the Dark Russet kind. Something tells me that these are most like what that pissed-off chef in Saratoga made so long ago.
Another one for the musicians in the crowd: Musical instruments. While some cheap instruments are playable, most are shadows of their kind that don’t play well, go out of tune easily, and just plain don’t sound good.
Quality 3 ply toilet paper, professional Atelier cosmetics, Lindt chocolate, salon bought shampoo and conditioner and King Island dairy products. To me, there’s no comparison to these products and I’d rather do without than to buy something inferior because it’s cheaper.
My Armani cologne. Damn, that stuff is wonderful. At $45 for a 1.7 ounce bottle it’s a bit pricey, but worth every cent.
Express clothing. It’s not terribly expensive, but can add up. The cut fits me best, and I can find understated style that I like without too much hunting.
It’s a matter of logistics, Urban Ranger. I like Swiss and Belgian chocolate - who doesn’t? - but when it comes to the point where you need chocolate as comfort food in exams (as I do, at present) I need a chocolate bar I can buy on my way. Swiss and Belgian chocolate ain’t that easy to get hold of.
Real Leatherman™ multi-tools. If that hiker in Utah had had a real Leatherman, he could have used it to turn that boulder into gravel and he wouldn’t have had to chop his hand off with that cheap imitation multi-tool.
Another vote for Doc Martens and Birkenstocks. The oil resistant sole has saved me many times at work from sliding into the fryer. Birkis are like a walking foot massage.
Meat from a real, quality butcher.
Fish from a knowledgable fishmonger.
Shaving cream (LabSeries for Men cream or foam).
Fresh mozzarella cheese.
Totally Ferret ferret food.
Eheim canister filters.