Paying For Rat

I’m cheap.  I don’t even consider myself to be frugal.  I’m cheap.  A few days ago, I spent my entire year’s Halloween budget–on November 1st–so I could store my new treasures for an entire year before using them, just to save $145.

However, there are some things that just aren’t worth going cheap.

When I first moved out on my own, a good friend walked me through the mistake of buying cheap cheese.   A slice of the generic oil-and-water that some stores pass off as cheese will not cure a sandwich made from Grade D bologna.

That advice got me through some less horrible meals when I was younger.

Looks Better than a Rat! (TheBusyBrain)

Now, I’ve expanded the crappy cheese rule to extend to any meal I pay someone else to prepare.   While I do occasionally hit a fast food restaurant when I’m traveling, I almost never do so any other time.    I enjoy sitting down for a nice meal in a nice atmosphere while friendly people cater to my every whim.   Well, almost every whim.

I’m not saying I go to $100 per plate steak houses every week, but I’m certainly not afraid to drop $20-$30 per meal.

My reasoning is simple:  anything I can buy at a fast food restaurant or a cheap restaurant, I can make better at home for less.   Why would I pay good money to sit at a sticky table and eat food that won’t let me forget it for 3 days?

If I’m going to spend the money, I’m going to eat something I either can’t make at home, or can’t make as well.  Chinese food is one example.  I can make it at home, but I don’t stock the ingredients, and I don’t enjoy the preparation, so I go out for it.   Cheap Chinese food tends to be worse than anything else I’ve eaten, so I spring for good food.   Cheap rat isn’t good rat.

How about you?  What are you willing to pay full price for?

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