Today I am participating in a Yakezie blog swap. This article is written by SB at One Cent at a Time, a blog to become rich monetarily, emotionally, spiritually and socially one step at a time. (Subscribe to his blog and and get his articles directly on to your email or e-readers.) When you’re done here, head over to his blog to see what I pay more for.

I was brought up frugally and frugality is my cult. I try to bargain at every shop and always try different options before buying any valuable item. I am not extreme couponist but, at the same time I try not to loose any opportunity for a price match. I try to get cheaper alternatives for almost anything on my shopping list, I try to avoid impulse buying.

Still, I try not to bargain for or seek out cheaper substitute on few items, listed below.

This list is my personal one, your opinion might vary. Think over this list and adjust with your own priorities and choices where you don’t possibly want to compromise quality to take price advantage.

1. Bedding

A mattress of good quality lasts for 8 to 10 years. On the other hand a cheap mattress will only lasts a couple of years before they become bad for your fitness. Slightly less than 1/3 of my day is spent on a mattress, I can’t take a risk of developing chronic pain by choosing a bad one.

Right now I use a Tempurpedic mattress because of my wife’s back problem. I got it a couple of years back and she experience pains on few days as compared to when we had another mattress.

When it comes to sleep, don’t be cheap, else, prepare to doll out money on doctor’s visit at later stage of your life.

2. Soap, Shampoo and Conditioner

One of my fav. blogger advises making soaps and detergents at home. Do that and risk your skin and clothes. I am not asking you to buy the priciest of ’em all but, don’t buy the cheapest one either. One place to avoid buying these items is dollar store. Unfortunately dollar stores sell a lot of personal care products. I don’t use cheap soap and shampoo for my body, plus, I want to smell good.

Similarly on detergents, cheap products may not suit some of my dresses. I don’t want to risk my clothes just to save a dollar or two for a family size pack. If I get a coupon, it’s good but, I don’t comprise on my Tide liquid.

3. Cookware

If look for cookware that will be durable and last for years, I do not find those qualities in a cheap piece of cookware. When we arrived in America for the first time we bought a $18 18 pieces Wal-mart special cookware. Two of the pieces didn’t last 18 days. And the entire set became useless in few months.

I don’t buy cookware with a famous chef’s picture on it but, my wife doesn’t usually compromises on her ‘KitchenAid’ products.

4. Safety Equipment/Tools

Fire extinguisher security alarm, car safety equipment can decide if I’ll survive or not. I can’t take risk on buying things that might not work when I need them.

The tools for gardening, plumbing are investments for life time (for amateur like me, who rarely use these) I buy only reputed brand items.

5. Things that are required for money earning work

Be it your blog or your professional dresses and suits, you should not get your blog designed for cheap. Professional quality work requires money, be prepared to spend it to get good return. I buy brand name shirts and pants and regularly dry clean them. Dry cleaning is costly too, but high quality linens should be dry cleaned only. I feel this expense is worth parting with.

5 quality shirts worth $300 is much less compared to raise I get every year. There is no direct connection between the two but personality magnifies when you look good. And it is your personality which sets up people’s perception about you.

6. Shoes

Unless you want to pay the orthopedics or want to get a new shoe every couple of months refrain from buying cheap shoes or over using a shoe. Expensive shoes are better manufactured/engineered, better fitting and more effective at preventing injury.

Quality goods last longer, work better, and save money from re-purchasing frequently. If you buy something truly worth the money, you could potentially use it for the rest of your life. A quality item doesn’t lose its value quickly, has longevity, and gives you “value for money.”