Beautiful young parents and their cute little daughter are smiling while choosing school stationery in the supermarket. Mom is making notes in the list
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Saving money when shopping for items is always a smart move. Why pay more for something when you don’t have to? There are times when you find yourself in a position of wanting to spend a little (or a lot) extra for something you want or need. 

These moments are more than understandable; they’re entirely relatable. There are times when you have to spend extra money on something because its quality can’t be beat. If you find yourself on the fence about such a purchase, let this list be your permission structure to splurge!

1. Car Tires 

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An expense no driver wants but comes part and parcel with car ownership is buying new tires. Whether you have to buy them as a replacement for a flat or blown tire, or due to normal wear and tear, you’ll eventually need new tires.

Tires are expensive, there’s no getting around that. Even the most inexpensive ones cost a lot. The quality and durability of the tires you buy are consequential when you’re on the road for the safety of other drivers and the people in your car.  

2. Crayons 

crayons
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Ask any kid who has used generic and branded crayons which ones they prefer, and they will almost always say they like the branded ones better. No one can blame them when you compare the two types of crayons.

Generic or off-brand crayons are not only softer than branded crayons, they break more easily, the colors are less vivid, and the color selection isn’t there. How many companies sell a box of crayons in 120 different colors? The one with the best crayons ever. 

3. Olive Oil

Olive oil
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When you go to the grocery store and shop for olive oil, you’ll find brands at different price points. As with most other things, the more it costs, the better grade it usually is. Buying the cheapest olive oil on the shelf is tempting, but you should think twice.

The cheaper olive oils typically lack the consistency of the more expensive brands, and the taste is far inferior to high-end olive oils. The price difference comes out to several dollars, but it’s worth the extra expense. 

4. Paper Towels and Toilet Tissue

Paper Towels
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Paper towels aren’t as cheap as they used to be, so it’s tempting to buy the lowest-priced generic brands. This turns out to be a big mistake, which you’ll completely realize as soon as you open the pack and tear that first sheet. 

You quickly discover the paper towel sheets are flimsy, don’t tear cleanly, and aren’t the least bit absorbable. A spill that uses one branded paper towel sheet takes a quarter of the roll. The same principle applies to toilet tissue. 

5. Condiments 

ketchup bottle
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Have you ever purchased fast food and received extra packets of ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise? Do you immediately recoil at the taste because it’s generic and not the name brand? I’ve been there, and yuck. 

There are many food products you can buy generic which taste just as good or better than their named-brand counterparts. Condiments aren’t one of them. You have to buy the name brand to guarantee the taste you’re looking for. 

6. Tape

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Trying to save a few cents by buying off-brand rolls of tape will end up costing you more because once you realize that it doesn’t stick, you end up buying the name-brand tape you should have purchased from the start.

The rolls of off-brand and name-brand tape may look alike and come in almost identical packaging, but that’s where the similarities end. Cheap tape is usually of terrible quality and it doesn’t improve with age. Stick to the name brand, no pun intended. 

7. Sticky Notes 

Sticky Notes
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Sticky notes have a lot in common with tape. Generic brands lack the quality and resilience of the branded product. Even though they may look alike on the surface, they don’t function in the same way at all. 

Lower-quality sticky notes often use a cheaper grade of paper, so as soon as you feel it, you can tell the difference. The main component of sticky notes is the adhesive. Cheapie brands don’t attach nearly as well as the good ones. 

8. Lotion

lotion
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Anyone with dry or sensitive skin can testify to the accuracy of this one. The type of lotion that’s used matters a great deal. The differences between them are so glaringly obvious that there’s really no comparison. 

Inexpensive brands of lotion feel cheap. They’re the consistency of water, and the moisture it’s supposed to provide isn’t there. Higher-quality lotions feel more like a cream, and they work on the skin as they should. They cost more but are worth every penny. 

9. Facial Tissue 

Kleenex tissue
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When you have a cold or the flu, you want to be as comfortable as possible since you already don’t feel well. The quality of facial tissue that you use makes all the difference in the world. Cheaper tissues are thin and feel rough.

Better quality facial tissues are thicker, and they may have lotion or be mentholated for an extra soothing feel to them. If your nose needs some extra TLC, the last thing you want to use is a box of facial tissues that feels like sandpaper.

10. Footwear

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You can save money buying less expensive shoes, but your feet will pay the inevitable price. Inexpensive shoes may look cute and fit nicely into your budget, but the lack of durability means you’ll have to replace them sooner rather than later.

Buying higher-quality shoes will take a chunk out of your wallet, but it’s a worthy expenditure. Not only will you feel better wearing nicer shoes, but you won’t need to replace them nearly as often because they’re made so well. 

11. Clothing 

Man buying clothes
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Fast fashion is all the rage because of its extremely affordable prices. You can fill up your wardrobe in no time with outfits from fast fashion stores and websites. These clothes are often made from cheap materials, are trendy, and aren’t made to last. 

A few pieces of well-made classic clothing cost a lot more than fast fashion items, but they never go out of style. They’re made from better fabrics and have sturdier construction, so these pieces are made to stand the test of time.

12. Cat and Dog Food

dog food
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Parents or foster parents of fur babies can appreciate this one. There are a lot of dog and cat food brands available in the store and through online retailers. Some are cheap, some are moderately priced, and others are exorbitantly priced. 

It’s easy to pick out the cheapest pet foods, but they’re often full of additives and chemicals that can make yout furry friends sick. You don’t need to buy the most expensive food because it’s not necessarily the best. Ask your pet’s veterinarian what they recommend. 

13. Mattresses

waterproof mattress protector
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Anyone who has had to furnish a house or apartment is well aware of how expensive mattresses are. They’re one of the more expensive pieces of furniture in the house, but they’re also among the most necessary. 

Considering how much time we spend sleeping, it only makes sense to buy a mattress that helps to ensure a good night's sleep. There’s an adage that advises people to spend more on things that separate your body and the ground, and a mattress certainly fits the bill. 

14. Pillows

Beautiful Indonesian girl lying on a bright pink pillow with a silk pillowcase and a sleep mask. View from above
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Another important element of restful sleep (besides a mattress) is a pillow. There are different types of pillows – feather, polyester fill, and memory foam – sold at various prices. That lower-priced pillow may be fluffy at first, but that changes in short order. 

Cheaper pillows don’t retain their shape and quickly go flat. This hardly provides the head and neck support that’s needed to sleep comfortably. You may have to dig a little deeper into your pockets for nice pillows, but aren’t you worth it? 

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