I needed to buy some jeans (because I got fat, honestly) and so I ordered some at 75% off from a website. When they showed up I discovered that the company had charged me for a pair that was out of stock and not included in the package. I've been fighting them through a credit card dispute for almost two months now. When our stovetop died, I found the best price on a replacement cartridge online, and the piece arrived broken. I've been struggling with the post office over the insurance claim for a few weeks now.

It feel like every time I find a way to save some money on something, it ends up costing me more in the long run, either in cash or aggravation. I'm starting to think I should just go pay full price at the store and be done with it.

There is a big difference between being cheap and saving.

You save more in the long run by buying high quality and tested products with great consumer reviews. Durability.

Some purchases end up a hassle, even if you paid full price. Certainly you have made dozens or hundreds of other discounted purchases that haven't causes any problems and did, in fact, save you money. Saving money is certainly "worth it", just don't go crazy trying to get the best deal possible on every item imaginable. Some deals aren't worth it, but many others are.

Me, I bought a stylish yet reliable pairs of jeans for $70 full price and have worn them several times a week for more than a year now. I didn't like paying $70 at first but that is at the low end for a good pair of jeans and its proven to be worth it. It's so hard for me to find jeans/pants that work for me, so now I just look for ones that fit me, period, and I've stopped caring so much about how much they cost and stopped "settling" on a pair jeans just because it's on sale. A good pair of jeans I will wear all the time, so the "cost per use" is negligible in the long run.

You have to be smart when you shop online. Always buy from an online retailer with a good reputation for returns and customer service (Zappos, Amazon, Newegg). If you don't, caveat emptor.

I had a problem with not receiving a product from a Google Checkout retailer. Google sent me my money back after about a month. It was not that big of a hassle in the end. Anyway, what I am getting at is that you should try Google Checkout retailers if you go away from a big name one.

I like to be frugal. I:
-reuse ziploc type bags I get from the dollar store
-keep scrimpy pieces of soap in a jar of water to make liquid handsoap
-take brown bag lunches for work
-get freebies off the internet like free samples of soap, shampoo, toothpaste
-use coupons to the point of gettign stuff free
-put a glass juice bottle in the back of the toilet tank

I've rarely had a problem with anything online. A couple of things to remember. One, ALWAYS shop with an American Express card. If you have to dispute, they are the ones to use. They are the best in defending their card members. Two, purchase from sites like Amazon, eBay (check seller's rating), SmartBargains and Overstock.com. Rarely do I ever go to buy something offline; except for food and utensils when I am in a pinch. The savings are better, free shipping, no gas and they come to you. Nothing cheap. I have name brand items. Armani suits new for 99.00. Where can you beat that? You can still look like a star by shopping frugally. Takes time and patience grasshopper.

You are what we call "unlucky." Try sacrificing something to your god.

Everytime I see this topic on the topic list I think it is about savings accounts.

Yeah, this isn't about saving money, it's about the incompetent people who package and ship stuff from certain unknown online companies.

Because someone in marketing figure out that if you call discounting "saving" people will buy more of it. Personal pet peeve of mine, because when you're spending money on something, you are definitely NOT saving.

Agreed, it is only saving money if you were planning on buying an item for $x, and when you get it cheaper, you put the remainder into savings

I get the whole "spending isn't saving" thing, I really do. If you're talking about an item you consider essential (and I do consider a functioning stove a necessity, though I could get by without a microwave or toaster oven) then IMO getting it for less is a form of "saving".

Anyway, marsman, fair enough. How do you decide on the higher price? When shopping for my stove, for example, I came across prices differing over a hundred dollars. If I have a mental limit of X, is that the number I use? Or whatever the largest price was, whether it's outrageous or not?

Just curious how you go about it.

It's not as simple as that. You must take into account the merchant, the payment method, shipping, and whether or not you are buying quality or whether you can afford to go cheap.

Everyone has a different set point when value and service out weighs the cost savings. The importance of the item is a factor. If the item is something that I use frequently or is very important, I'm more likely to spend a little more to ensure I'm getting quality and service.

When I bake cookies, I get generic raw ingredients (butter, sugar, flour) but shell out for pricier, name brand spices because better spices make a better cookie where as expensive butter doesn't make such a difference. In clothes, I find that $50 Banana Republic jeans are a better deal than $25 Target jeans. Banana tends to make better quality clothes and if something should happen in the first 60 days (the hem falls, a mystery hole appears) then they will refund your money without hassle when you return the item to the store.

Peace of mind and quality generally trumps drastic price savings in my book. I will try to find the best bargain possible; I just don't think cheap things and poor customer service are a bargain.