A-Train Finance

As a follow up to my ‘living within your means’ post, I thought I’d discuss a few things that the ‘cheap factor’ should not be applied to. It’s not the best idea to get the cheapest of everything, and here are a few of those things (in no particular order).

Tires for your car - A long time ago I worked for a major tire retailer as a technician. Please, please do not buy the cheapest tires that a company sells. You know, the ones that they have the advertisement for on the front of the building..”4 tires for $100!!!” There are several reasons for this the main of which is your safety. When it comes down to it, cheap tires simply do not work as well as mid-range tires. Spending the money for slightly more expensive but better tires will save you money in the long run. There is a reason those tires are so cheap, don’t mess with this when your safety is in mind.

Regular Car Check-ups - There may be ways to make this more inexpensive by establishing a relationship with a local mechanic but just like your own health if you prevent any major issues before they occur, you’ll be better off in the long run. Making sure you check all of your cars components every few months ensures that you won’t have any major issues and if you do, you’ll have plenty of time in advance to know it’s going to happen.

Cookies - Once while on a road trip down the east coast a friend and I stopped in a convenience store to pick up some snacks. I saw a gigantic bag of ‘Chocolate Chip flavored Cookies’ for 99 cents. Of course, I bought it. They really were Chocolate chip flavored but I don’t think they were actual chocolate chips. Long story short, we fed them to some birds at a rest stop 100 miles away.

Milk - I’m sorry, but organic milk just tastes 100% better than ‘normal’ milk and it’s so much better for you. Between all of the hormones and preservatives in milk, it’s just not healthy especially to give your kids. It’s a dollar or two more per gallon but I think it’s entirely worth it for your health and taste buds.

Health Care - When it comes to health care for you and your family, I think it’s very important that you don’t go with the cheapest possible options. Although any health care is better than none both you and your family need to be protected against any treatable or foreseeable problems. Just like the car example, if you get checked frequently you can catch signs of problems early on, and have more time to treat them.

Kitchen Knives - It is actual true that the more dull a blade is, the more likely you are to get hurt with it. If you have to push harder to cut whatever you’re using the knife on, you’re more likely to slip and cut yourself instead. High quality sharp knives last longer and stay sharp longer. That $15 dollar knife set may look attractive, but you might want to spend a bit more to get lasting quality. It’s the debate of whether you should spend $15 dollars several times, or $75 once and have a good set.

Lasik Eye Surgery - Too many times I’ve heard radio commercials for the ‘new cheaper lasik’ for just $299.99 per eye! Get one eye done and get the other eye free! Come on. This is surgery we’re talking about here. These people are going to be cutting the tops of your eyeball off, lazering your eye to reshape your cornea and then reattaching it. This is not something you want to get a 2 for 1 special on. Do the research, find a good, well known doctor and save up for it.

Tipping Servers - This is an absolute, after having worked in the restaurant industry. I’ve seen all the people that either don’t tip or leave 5% tips for their servers. You must understand that this is how restaurant servers make their money. They are making $2.75 per hour without tips. They usually even have to tip out 4% to server assistants and food runners. Unless you received the worst service of your life anything less than 15% is unacceptable. If you can’t afford to tip from 15-20% for good service at a restaurant, then you can’t afford to eat there. It is part of the cost of the meal. Oh yeah, and always overtip your breakfast waiter or waitress - breakfast is typically much cheaper so they make less.

Underwear - There is a reason why they sell a pack of 35 for $1 dollar. It’s because you’ll need a new pair 3 times daily. As Kevin James of ‘King of Queens’ says ‘It’s like having a tangled web of cloth between your legs. Now I know why so many for so little.’

Blenders/Food Processors - If you’re going to make the investment to get one of these, do not get a cheap one. They are absolute crap. They break, crack, explode, catch on fire, smoke, set off fire alarms. This is another one of those save up for a few months if you have to, but get a quality piece of kitchen ware. It will last you generations and you will get your money’s worth out of it.

I’m sure there are more. Any I forgot to mention?