Buy the basics and use the rest to do good.

I have never been a “name dropper.” I do not care what brand of food I buy, as long as it tastes good. I do not care what brand of clothes I wear, as long as they look good on. I do not care what brand of makeup or health and beauty products I use, as long as they work and are good for the earth.

That is not to say that I buy the cheapest items in the store. I will not even walk into the store that has the biggest savings out there. It is not about the money, it is about the quality and the actual worth of the item.

Just because a product has a “famous” name attached to it should not mean the price should jump up hundreds of percents.

I do buy lots of items from thrift shops and consignment shops. That already saves money. But, I also look for products that are well-made and will last.

Here is an example: I love name brand purses. However, I can not justify buying a $300 bag when I can pay $50 for a bag and use the rest to pay my utility bills or groceries. They will both last about the same amount of time, and knowing my use, it will end up with pen marks and scuffs. I bought three Coach™ purses through an online marketplace for $60, which is less than the price of one new one. All are in great shape.

So, the next time you are considering buying an expensive name brand item, take a minute to really think about what you could do that is good with that money if you just bought a “regular” item. Buy the regular priced item and do something good with the difference!