Don't (Dis)count Me Out

This weekend, I went shopping, which is a rarity for me because I'm quite the cheapskate. I still wear my favorite fleece sweater that I bought way back in 1995 and my pair of black shoes, though a bit scuffed with some worn down heels, are still affixed to my feet most days of the week.

These two reasons were the impetus for my willingness to spend this weekend. I've decided that, staring down the barrel of the big 3-0, I need some decent clothes. Coupled with this is the notion of buying quality over quantity - I'd rather have three really nice shirts that may be a bit more expensive and are of high quality than fifteen ratty shirts that were a "steal". Of course, here at DotLoop, we understand and embrace the quality over quantity mantra, which is why we are so focused on delivering the best technology solution for real estate agents.

Coincidentally, I also stopped by a local record store and, ironically, only ended up buying books. Adding an additional layer of irony to the mix, I bought the book "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture" with a gift card my girlfriend gave me for Christmas, paying nothing for it. Had the book been on sale, I would have completed my trifecta of irony, but alas, it was full price.

Still, like most quality things, it was worth every penny. In this Great Recession, I and most of my peers, are starting to rethink having quantity in place of quality. If you've seen Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, you know that "cheap" has been winning the race for the past few decades (dollar menus, anyone?).

But, like the tortoise and the hare, the tides are shifting. Earlier this week, I read this article about how a home's sales price should not be the main focus, because, like those dollar menu burgers, there are hidden costs as well. And obesity and high blood pressure aren't just side effects regulated to a side order of fries, either. A recent study has found that most home owners constantly underestimate the pain of a commute and that commuting is the one daily activity most injurious to happiness.

So, what's your take? Would you rather pay a bit more to be closer to your work or have a smaller home built with better quality, or is the extra closet space more important to you?

I know what I'd choose. And I'm done with being cheap. From now on, the operative word is thrifty.

Now, where's my shoe polish?

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