Tapadera

If you're just starting out, or starting over, furnishing a new home can seem overwhelming.  You may be tempted to go cheap on some of the basics because you need something right away.  It's okay to do that if you need something immediately, but realize that what you purchase will not last for long, and it will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.  The more you have to replace a worn-out or broken item over the course of years, the more money you will end up spending on it.  So here are a few items that you should buy the best quality you can afford in order to save money in the long run:

Bedding and Towels

If you think about it, you spend one third of your life sleeping.  And it's hard to fall asleep when your sheets are stiff and itchy, and are so pilled up that you feel like you're sleeping on sandpaper, or gravel.  Towels are another item that you use every single day.  And it's so annoying when the new towels you've just bought fall apart in the wash, or shrivel up along the decorative woven stripe (it's called a dobby, if you're wondering).  Buying the best quality you can afford in these two items will save you a lot of money in the long run.  Better quality means your sheets and towels will be more durable, that is less prone to ripping and fraying, and they will last many years longer than cheaper linens.  So instead of having to replace them every year or two, you should expect to get between 5 to 10 years use out of them.  I have sheets and towels that I purchased 15 and 20 years ago that I still use often today.  Quality lasts.

Furniture

While cheap furniture often looks great when it's new and trendy, it doesn't last very long.  Within a few short years you find that your item has become kind of wobbly, maybe the legs have come loose, some of the laminate has peeled off or the corners are chipped.  Often cheap furniture can't be repainted, restored, or repurposed.  On the other hand, good quality furniture will last for decades.  And if you're hard-pressed for money, you can often purchase very durable pieces second-hand for a very low cost.  Often you can repaint or refinish items inexpensively yourself to match your decor.  As trends and your taste changes over the years, a good quality piece of furniture can be made over to match your needs however many times as you wish, unlike cheap furniture which often ends up in the landfill after a few short years of use.

Dinnerware

This is another thing that most people use every single day.  What a lot of people don't realize is that plates that have become chipped or cracked are no longer food safe.  They can harbour harmful bacteria in their rough surfaces that can make you and your family very ill.  So they need to be replaced.  Certain types of ceramics, stoneware especially, are prone to chip more easily, even if they are hand washed every day.  I'm not saying not to buy them, but you may want to save the pretty dinner plates for special occasions, and get yourself something more durable for every day use.  Materials like porcelain or ironware are less prone to chipping and might be more suitable for everyday use - especially if you have family members who are a little rough or careless when loading or unloading the dishwasher.

Freezer

I know this is a big purchase, but if you have the space in your home, and can afford to get one, then buy it!  It will save you so much money on food in the long run that it will literally pay for itself.  With a freezer, you can take advantage of lower prices when buying bulk foods, as well as grocery store sales and discounts.  If you garden, you can use it for storing a lot of different types of foods you grow so you can enjoy them throughout the winter season.  You can use it to create freezer meals that can be taken out and thawed as needed.  And you can use it for storing leftovers for quick, easy meals and to prevent spoilage and waste.

While it seems counter-intuitive to spend a lot of money on basic household items, you will end up saving money in the long-term.  Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint.  And it's good to come home to things that are reliable and give you peace of mind.  If they are not breaking down, you don't even have to think about them. And the money you will save in not replacing them can go to more worthwhile directions.