Inside: Use these tips to buy less and choose quality items that last the test of time.
A guest post by Cora Gold
In modern society, you are constantly bombarded by advertising encouraging you to buy more things.
And there are many cheap, poorly made products available for sale, both in physical stores and online. If you want to avoid these items, it helps to know what to look for when shopping for new items.
Whether you’re shopping for new clothes, furniture, or tech devices, you ideally want to first consider whether or not you need that item. Second, consider investing in goods that are authentic, high quality, and durable — otherwise, you’re wasting your hard-earned money.
The following guide will help you navigate the shopping process and choose quality products that last, which benefits both you and the planet.
Savvy Shoppers Buy Less and Choose Quality Items That Last
A key to being a savvy shopper is opting to buy less stuff to begin with. This starts with being intentional with shopping.
Ask yourself some key questions before buying anything new. Also, ask yourself if you can make do with what you already have.
Once you determine that you’re going to purchase something, consider the following tips for how to choose quality items that last.
In the famous words of Vivienne Westwood, “Buy Less, Choose Well, Make it Last”.
What to Look for When Shopping for Clothes
It’s no secret that the fashion industry produces massive amounts of low quality garments these days.
While the most sustainable thing to do is to stop shopping, the second best thing is to shop secondhand when possible.
Identify the signs of quality and sustainable clothing as that will help you to choose wisely.
1. Check the Buttons First
If you’re considering buying something with buttons, look at their quality before giving the rest of the garment the once-over.
Mother of pearl, horn, or other natural products produce the buttons on high-quality clothing. If you see plastic buttons, pay closer attention to the following tips.
2. Look for Natural, Sustainable Fibers
Cashmere, wool, cotton, silk, and linen are all examples of natural fibers. These are normally softer and more luxurious-feeling than synthetic materials like polyester, acrylic, and rayon.
People often associate these natural fibers with sustainability, but this isn’t always the case, as the production process can still be wasteful. If you really want to be sure the item is sustainable, check the labels and look for eco-friendly processes like solution-dyed, PFAS-free or upcycled.
3. Assess the Lining, Stitching, and Seams
Clean lining often indicates good quality. If there is one, you’re likely better off already, but don’t stop there. If your desired garment has properly finished, tight, straight and even double-stitched seams, you’ve found a winner.
With quality finished seams, you’ll have less fraying, while loose, uneven stitching shows poor quality, meaning your clothes will fall apart or tear more easily. Double stitching is a sign of better quality, and your garment will retain its shape and last longer.
What to Look for When Furniture Shopping
Modern, quality furniture is anything but cheap, so you must pay close attention to ensure you’re getting what you pay for. And while there are some types of furniture you can buy secondhand, consider these tips and which items to avoid.
If you order something online and it comes in a box for assembly, you might not be getting much. Your new furniture item may be particleboard or another low-quality material, so expect signs of wear and tear quite soon.
1. Check the Materials
Furniture manufacturers design high-quality furniture to be durable and to look good. However, many popular chain stores charge high prices while cutting corners and using lower quality materials.
Read up on how a company sources its materials, and try to avoid synthetic options, like faux wood or faux leather.
Although genuine leather is not the most eco-friendly option, it remains more sustainable than its cheaper vinyl imitator, which takes around 1,000 years to decompose.
2. Scour for Certifications
When you’re at the furniture store, be brave and look for certification labels or tags on the piece of furniture you’re eyeing. If you rely on the salesperson, you may end up disappointed.
Responsibly manufactured furniture often has a label or certification tag — FSC appears on sustainably sourced wood products, and CertiPUR-US is common on foam cushions made according to specific chemical-free criteria.
These certifications and others guarantee that your furniture items are good quality and eco-friendly.
3. Examine the Construction
If you want a quality piece of furniture built to last, how it’s constructed is the ideal indicator.
Top-notch furniture will have solid and secure fixings, with mortise and tenon and dovetail joints providing superior strength compared to staples or common butt jointing.
Expect that cheaper and flimsier construction in an armchair could lead to one of your family or guests unexpectedly landing on the floor somewhere down the line.
What to Look for When Shopping for Tech Products
Shopping for tech products can be problematic, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the nuances involved in how they work.
While buying clothing and furniture affords you a chance to examine the products closely, tech items’ essential working parts get hidden under enclosures or shiny plastic finishes.
The best way to identify high-quality tech products is to follow the lead of others and rely on reputation.
1. Trust Well-Known Brands
If you recognize a brand name, you’re likely onto a decent product. Remember, though, you can buy earlier models of most tech products if you want to save money — its manufacture date doesn’t define its quality.
Take a smartphone, for example — you can buy the latest iPhone released yesterday, or you can buy a model that first hit the shelves two years ago.
You can even opt for a refurbished option, which can mean saving a used device from the landfill and turning it into a practically new item.
2. Determine the Manufacturer’s Warranty
Whatever tech gadgets you invest in, you have the right to check the manufacturer’s warranty in person or online before you buy.
No matter the item’s price, this warranty indicates how much confidence the maker has in the product — the longer the warranty, the more durable and high-quality the item should be.
Read the warranty’s terms and conditions carefully before buying the gadget, though.
3. Check Consumer Reviews
More than any other products, good reviews of tech items carry a lot of weight. For this reason, the smart move is to find out what your peers have to say before investing in an expensive high-tech product.
With many knowledgeable and tech-savvy buyers online, you’ll glean plenty of valuable information to make a more informed decision on the item’s quality, durability and viability. Just be aware that some reviews may not be genuine so take that into consideration as well.
Buying Durable, High-Quality Items Means Purchasing Wisely
Opting for quality over quantity, you’re investing for the present and future. You’re reducing the risk of having to repair or replace, which ultimately could make the price of an inferior item more expensive than the better one.
Practice mindful shopping and buy wisely to ensure your item lasts the test of time while giving you peace of mind.
Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of Revivalist magazine. She loves writing about family and living life to the fullest. Follow Cora on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.