Slap the cuffs on me and call me cheap

After much consideration I have concluded that cheap is the way to go in certain areas of life.   Quality is always important.  But quality doesn’t always come with a huge price tag.  And, the level of quality needed in some areas should be scaled toward the planned obsolescence of an item.  Some things, like celebrity relationships, are practically issued with an expiration date.  Why lay down a lot of money for things that have a fragile life span?  This list is a starting point, but you can use the same approach to evaluate any routine type of purchase to determine the best use of your dollar.

What is in the cocktail glass is more important than the glass

Drinkware – cocktail, wine, champagne, water, and other beverage glasses.  This is an area of your life where being cheap is a good thing.  Glasses break.  All of the time.  If you are entertaining (and if you have good friends — you should) the odds of broken glasses goes up 2000%.  And if you are throwing a party, broken glasses are a sign that you have thrown a good one.  (And, having one party guest wake up in your front yard the next morning and another go missing for a few days after your party is a sign that you have thrown a GREAT one, but I digress).  That should paint a picture as to why money spent on glasses is not a good idea.  And, if you are throwing a party for under 20 people, it is nice to use something other than a college issued plastic cup.  I agree that crystal can be beautiful.   I think my responsibility as a hostess is to pay attention to my guests.  If I used crystal, I would be thinking about breakage the whole time.  That doesn’t sound like the making of a good party.  And, it would make me sleepy.  I have enough things to worry about and track in life.  Spending time thinking about drinking glasses would be a collosal waste of brain power that could be focused on filling glasses, sending saucy text messages, or, well. Frankly?  Doing anything else.  Target is a great place to look for good looking inexpensive glasses.  They carry a variety of designs and all necessary shapes to bring out the best flavor of wines and you are sure to find something that will work with your personal style. 

Libbey stemless wine glass

Libbey stemless martini glass

I love the Libbey brand stemless glasses.  They are clean, functional, and less likely to be knocked over than a glass with a stem.  Two other options for cheap glasses are Cost Plus World Market and IKEA.  An advantage with Cost Plus is that you can buy individual glasses which is great to bring up your cocktail glass head-count after entertaining (see mention of breakage above).

Ice is nice, but plastic is fantastic

Jazz up a navy blue dress with this orange cuff and have money left over for a week of lattes

Jewelery is lovely.  Don’t get me wrong.  I think gems, precious metal, and the combination of the two can be stunning.  But, you don’t have to buy gems in order to accessorize.  Plastic is one of the signs that science is useful and funding should not be cut in schools.  And plastic jewelery is a sign that science can be elevated to a higher good when guided by fashion.     Plastic jewelery is colorful, flexible, fun, and eye catching.  And, it is absolutely affordable.  Once again, Target to the rescue!  You will find a wide range of styles, colors, and jewelery options. 

Cheap is enticing

They have a lot of variety – with consistently low prices. (They do offer some higher priced pieces, but you can easily find great options in the lower priced sections).   Additional options for tracking down great plastic jewelery include Nordstrom Rack and J C Penny – no joke.   When you wear plastic jewelery, you will find that it is approachable.  You will receive compliments, questions about where you got it, and comments of admiration for how you put your look together.  That is a lot of ROI on an investment of less than $10.

No Shirt, No Service

Real life is messy.  And, if you are doing life right, the messy parts are more than half the fun.  As a rule, go cheap with your shirts.  These are garments that take a beating.  Spills, sweat, marks picked up in public places (such as leaning your arm on a counter), and other wardrobe assults are just the beginning of the combat zone your shirts must survive.  There are plenty of options at a lower price point on the spectrum that still have styling and construction.  Mixing in a fewer tops at a higher price point can be good for your wardrobe, and if you fall in love with something, of course you get a full pass.  But, generally, it is a good rule of thumb to look for the cuts, construction, and fabric hand you need in lower price options.  If you would need bed rest for a week if a latte was spilled on a shirt you are looking at buying, think long and hard.  Life happens and you can’t always control where it lands.  Investing in shoes, pants, skirts, and jackets will take your wardrobe dollar further than a large investment in a top. 

Wardrobe trifecta: simple, classic, and machine washable

Where to go?  J C Penny is the unsung hero of tops.  Without a doubt, it is a go-to for tops in styles ranging from classic to trendy.  Use a critical eye and really screen for cut, construction, and colors.  Target also carries a surprising number of tops that are hip, sexy, and well priced.  And always check Old Navy.  There are a lot of T-shirts and casual tops to screen through, but they do offer some versitile gems.  For all the retailers I mentioned, don’t forget to look at what they have on-line.  They often have pieces that are only available on-line and have special on-line sales.

Life presents you with a lot of choices.  It all comes down to determining how to prioritize your budget.  Think about where your resources are best spent.  You must factor in not just the initial purchase price, but any maintenance and worry price you will pay as you own the item.  These are just a few options for going cheap in style.  And, when blended with areas where you make more of an investment, cheap items won’t stand out like a sore thumb.  In fact, what could be more slick than blending the high with the low, the common with the rare?