# Things You Just Won't Skimp On

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 22, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229 "2003-01-22T16:14:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/81 "2003-01-23T19:09:02Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Inky- \*  
> \*\*My swiss cheese must be Jarlsberg, period. \*\*

Swiss cheese is Swiss. Jarlsberg is Norwegian. 😕

And corkscrews? [There can be only one](http://www.greattable.com/productguide_sp2.php?id=145)

Unles there’s [another one](http://www.bella-italia.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/gondola/kitchenware/index.shtml?E+gondola)

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**Author:** ![meezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@meezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meezer)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/82 "2003-01-23T20:43:33Z")

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Non-disposable lighters - Zippo (and none of that butane crap, either)

Hellman’s mayo

Scott toilet paper

Bounty paper towels

Dawn dish detergent (blue kind only)

Era detergent

Downy regular scent fabric softener

Whisker Lickin’s cat treats (the cat insists)

Tidy Cat cat litter (plain, unscented - the yellow bag)

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**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/83 "2003-01-23T21:16:38Z")

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Bread. Absolutely nothing that comes in a plastic bag is allowed.

Ice cream.

Beer. (Strangely enough, I don’t feel the same way about wine; unless it’s literally rotgut, it all tastes OK to me.)

I can’t think of too much else, except maybe cheese and sandwich-type meats (which I rarely buy, but if I do it has to be the good stuff).

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**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/84 "2003-01-23T21:41:29Z")

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I don’t think I can help but repeat some others’ preferences here, although I’m trying to focus on things no one else has mentioned.

Coffee – Gevalia, breakfast blend or nothing else  
Shoes – cheap shoes just aren’t worth it  
TP – I’m with **Edwardina** on the Angel Soft – good compromise between quality and price.  
Cheese – prefer the imports, low-fat cheese (low fat dairy products in general) should be banned.  
Garden Tools – This one is important. I bought three pairs of pruning shears and two watering wands before I learned to just buy expensive in the first place. Good shovels are important as well.  
Clothing – All must be at least 90% cotton or some other natural fiber, like linen or silk. I won’t wear synthetics or fabrics that just don’t breathe.  
ketchup – must be Heinz  
dog & cat food – Science Diet lite because they’re all fatties and spoiled rotten.  
Vet care – speaking of spoiled pets… I use the pricey vet in town. I believe you get what you pay for when it comes to your animal care.  
Conditioner – specifically Paul Mitchell’s detangler. Anything else leaves me with giant dreadlocks.  
diet Coke – no Vanilla, no special flavors.  
vodka – Belvedere, Grey Goose or Absolut if that’s the best they have.  
bedding/linens – I’m in the high thread count school of thought.  
ice cream – Ben & Jerry’s or Haagen Dasz.  
Frozen french fries – Ore Ida or you might as well not even buy frozen french fries.  
tape – Better be Scotch brand tape… or you might as well not even buy tape at all.

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**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/85 "2003-01-27T06:28:02Z")

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Liquor- Goose, Stoli, Crown Royal, and Johnny Black, accept no substitutes… until you’re hammered then break out the handle of Smirnoff.

Bedding- I can’t stress the necessity of down in cold weather climates enough.

Oral Hygiene- I thought $80 for a Braun Oral-B Ultra was an excessive amount to spend on a tooth brush… then I tried it.

Computer Hardware- AMD, Epox, Crucial, Turtle Beach, ATI, Sony, and NEC are your friends. Pay less and you’ll make up the difference in aggravation.

Writting Utensil- Zebra, 0.5mm mechanical pencil, good rubber grip, cost irrelevant

Winter Gear- North Face makes the most expensive and the most durable, long-lasting, functional, and warm winter gear.

MP3’s- The iPod costs a pretty penny but everything is a pretender to the throne.

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**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/86 "2003-01-27T06:29:13Z")

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everything _else_

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**Author:** ![kirk280980](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c77e96/32.png) [@kirk280980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirk280980)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/87 "2003-01-27T12:03:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by meezer \*  
> **Non-disposable lighters - Zippo (and none of that butane crap, either)**

Same here. I will _not_ use anything other than a Zippo. Something which gets used dozens of times a week and still looks and works like brand new after several years has to be good. Besides, they look cool, and I love that “chink!” sound :).

My own nominations are:

**Laundry detergent** - Has to be one of the main brands such as Persil or Ariel. The “price sensitive” and store brands, in my experience, just aren’t as good, and they smell awful. I’m extremely fussy about my laundry.

**Toilet paper** - Andrex or Charmin, white only. I know it’s just going to be dragged between my bumcheeks, but the cheap and/or coloured stuff leaves my backside red raw. Ungood.

**Ketchup** - Not that I use it very often, but when I do, it’s got to be Heinz.

**Footwear** - Dr Martens ONLY. Even in the office.

**Jeans** - Levi’s 501s. They last and last, and I like the cut more than anything else out there.

**Electronics** - Sony, Toshiba and Hewlett-Packard. In part, because I’m a fussy snob, but also because I’ve always had good experiences with their products in the past, and like to stick with what works for me.

…and more besides.

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**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/88 "2003-01-27T13:28:50Z")

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Hmmm for me:

Blue jeans: Absolutely _must_ be Bluenotes or Maryk & Co. I have found both these brands to be decently priced and last for a long time.

Soy Sauce: Must be China Lily. I have tried other brands but I prefer China Lily, or whatever brand it is that most Sushi bars use.

Peanut Butter: To me it doesn’t really matter but my roomie _insists_ on Kraft. So I bow to his choice. I don’t eat PB much anyway and he uses it mainly for baking these wonderful squares so I don’t mind.

I will eat margerine, but I prefer butter. We keep that mainly for our baking though as it can get kind of expensive and we don’t have much money right now.

I’m amazingly easy going for most of my stuff. Can’t really think on any others I insist upon right now.

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**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/89 "2003-01-27T15:33:05Z")

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**Tools** When it comes to hand tools, never by those cheap bargain-basement pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, etc. Spend a little extra now, and they’ll last a lifetime. I’ll only buy tools made by Channellock, Craftsman, Husky, or Jensen. I have Stanley tools as well, but since they went offshore to dodge taxes, I won’t buy anything from them now.

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**Author:** ![Faustina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e19adc/32.png) [@Faustina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faustina)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/90 "2003-01-27T16:19:52Z")

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Tea: must be Luzianne for iced tea. Lipton is the Devil’s dandruff.

Coffee: Gevalia, the traditional roast.

Tomato sauce: Contadina.

Jam/Jelly: Smucker’s.

Ice cream: Breyer’s Vanilla with bean specks.

Books. I don’t care how broke I am, I can find money for books.

Mascara: Great Lash, by Maybelline. I haven’t used any other mascara since high school.

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**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/91 "2003-01-27T16:28:06Z")

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Shoes. I buy mostly Stuart Weitzman shoes.

```
 Sheets. Nothing below 400 thread count.  

 Coffee. I order mine from Peets.com.  

 Seafood. I cook seafood every Saturday (unless I go out), and I go to a store that is out of my way to get fresh seafood, since my Kroger only carries frozen. If I'm going to take the time and trouble to cook a good meal, I want great ingredients.
```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/92 "2003-01-27T16:56:50Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Obsidian Flutterby \*  
> \*\*Soy Sauce: Must be China Lily. I have tried other brands but I prefer China Lily, or whatever brand it is that most Sushi bars use.  
> \*\*

I miss China Lily. I can’t get it here. The stuff we have is naaaaasty.

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**Author:** ![DarkWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee59a6/32.png) [@DarkWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkWriter)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/93 "2003-01-27T19:49:23Z")

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I cook dinner almost every night, so I don’t skimp on cuts of meat or fresh ingredients.

Cottonelle, no exceptions.

Vanilla Coke.

Luzianne decaf teabags for my iced tea.

Skippy honey nut peanut butter.

Martin’s potato bread.

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**Author:** ![CuriousCanuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@CuriousCanuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CuriousCanuck)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/94 "2003-01-27T20:08:38Z")

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- TP 2 or even 3 ply. No less.

- Up here it is called Kraft Dinner, not Mac n Cheese,  
[BNL] If I had $1,000,000 I wouldn’t have to eat Kraft Dinner… but you would… of course I would. I’d just eat more…(snip) with all those fancy ketchups… dijon ketchup… mmmmmmmm [/BNL]

- if beer costs $5 less per 2-4 there is a reason. Don’t buy it.

- Dish soap… the cheap stuff is watery and that means I use more, therefore more trips to buy it. No thanks.

- I am also more in favour of a quality product if it saves me time or money in the long run. A $20 pair of shoes might last me a season, but a $120 pair might last me 2 years for a savings of $40. Makes good sense. And usually when you spend more for something the comfort level is higher too.

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**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/95 "2003-01-27T20:40:03Z")

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Coffee (local roaster)

Beer (Sierra Nevada Pale Ale)

Shoes (Red Wings for work, Vasque for play)

and the most important…

Tools - Craftsman for hand and Dewalt for power. Period.

I could pretty much care less where everything else comes from.

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**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/96 "2003-01-27T21:06:04Z")

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TDK tapes. Maxell is acceptable in an emergency.

Weinerschnitzel french fries. They’re the only ones I can eat since McDonald’s ruined theirs with vegetable oil.

I once saw a guy buying rubbers at the 99 cent store. Should I have intervened? Who but a 13 year old would buy those?

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**Author:** ![Kbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kbean)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/97 "2003-01-27T22:09:06Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by kirk280980 \*  
> \*\ ***Footwear** - Dr Martens ONLY. Even in the office. \*\*

Agreed 100%. Dr. Marten’s own the universe. I will wear my converse all-star high-tops sometimes, though, but that’s it.

And you can have my Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioning Hair Conditioner when you pry it from my cold dead fingers.

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**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/98 "2003-01-27T22:45:11Z")

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Vanilla Coke.  
Barq’s Rootbeer  
Pantene Pro-V Hydrating Curls Conditioner.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/99 "2003-01-28T00:25:35Z")

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I will not buy cheap bras. Underwear, yes, but my bras have to be Victoria’s Secret. Always have been, always will be.

I’ll add another vote for good TP. I like the Kleenex brand with ripples and aloe.

Pantene Pro-V Volumizing Conditioner is a _must_ have. Otherwise I can’t even brush my hair. (I can do a cheap shampoo, as long as I condition with Pantene.)

Haircuts. I will not ever skimp on a haircut. EVER. I’m frightened of discount salons.

Diet Coke.

Good vodka. I refuse to drink well vodka; it has to be Absolut or better or this girl ain’t drinkin’ it.

Real, unplated silver. I don’t wear gold, but even plated silver makes my skin turn green and my ears get all red and irritated.

Tampax tampons ONLY. (And on a related note, only Advil will do. I’m sure the house brand ibuprofen is just as good, but I refuse to find out. It has to be Advil.)

The rest of it I don’t really care about…I’ll wear cheap make-up, use cheap hairspray, secondhand clothes, Payless shoes, house brand groceries, generic detergent, thrift store furniture…I’m pretty low-maintenance overall, but there are a few things that aren’t worth buying unless they’re worth spending a little extra money on. 😃

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-just-wont-skimp-on/150229/100 "2003-01-28T01:00:30Z")

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Good TP - no particular brand loyalty, but no “house brand” either

Liquor (back when I could drink) - Absolut or better for vodka, Crown Royal for whiskey, Tanqueray for gin

Shampoo - Pert Plus, it took me so long to find a shampoo that works on my hair, hell if I’m going to start futzing with it now

Sheets - 350 TC or better

Toothbrush/toothpaste - Sonicare with Mentadent toothpaste

And I’m also a gas elitest - Chevron or 76 for me. Which is stupid because I actually own stock in Exxon and Mobil (or whomever Royal Dutch Petroleum is), but whatever…

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