by Texas Homesteader ~
We spend money on products, services and more. But do you get what you pay for, or pay more for nothing??
Get the most for your money. A little research can pay off BIGTIME!
Don’t Pay More For Blind Loyalty
RancherMan & I have been talking about the true costs of staying with a company or product – not because it’s the best fit or best financial decision, but solely because they’re in our comfort zone.
Thankfully we are both in agreement. Part of the reason we can both live & work right here in our NE Texas Homestead paradise is because we both make sure our money is spent wisely.
We know just going the cheapest route is seldom a good idea. Sure, you may initially save a few bucks. But if the product isn’t of high enough quality to give you satisfactory performance, it’s really not that good of a deal is it?
It’s true you oftentimes get what you pay for.
BUT, (and this is important) it’s also oftentimes true that by being complacent you could very well be paying much more for a brand name or to stay in your comfort zone.
It’s important to look for a product or service that is the virtually the same elsewhere for significantly less.
Don’t get stuck paying much more than you should just because you’ve never considered comparisons.
Vehicles – It’s Not Always About The Name On The Hood
For instance, there is a very well-known tractor company that produces a fine product. But (in my humble opinion) they’re also very overpriced.
I feel by buying that particular tractor I’m paying more for the name on the hood than what’s under it. And it’s what’s UNDER the hood that’s important!
Our tractors, lawn mowers & vehicles were purchased based on research, past experience & customer satisfaction ratings.
Only at the very end of our vetting process do we consider price.
Least Expensive Choice For Electric Providers
The same can be said for electric providers. That big name electric provider doesn’t deliver different electricity than some of the smaller and less-known providers.
The light switch is flipped and the light comes on. Literally – NO difference.
Our home is very well insulated and it’s laid out in a passive-solar design. So energy usage for us is already minuscule.
Here in Texas, RancherMan checks the website Power-To-Choose (a Texas electric provider comparison site) any time our electric contract is about to expire. And the little bit of time he spends researching saves us money
Every.
Stinkin’.
Month!
How To Compare Electric Rates In Your Area
Over half of the states in the US now allow energy choice. So if your state allows competition, just a little research for the best option to suit YOUR family can save tons.
Competitive Energy has a state-by-state map to help you choose.
Do some research for your own energy usage. Don’t pay more for nothing.
The dough you save could be huge and you can save it over & over again each month!
Saving Money With Cell Phone Provider
And what about cellphone providers? We’ve found that smaller, lesser-known prepaid companies are almost always cheaper than the ‘Big 3‘.
RancherMan & I are utilizing a cell service using the very same AT&T towers we were using before, but significantly (and I mean SIGNIFICANTLY) cheaper.
We bought our iPhones outright several years ago so we were never pigeonholed into a contract in the first place. Now we’re paying month-to-month, and never being pressured to upgrade our perfectly functional phones ‘just because’.
My cell plan includes unlimited talk & text plus 500 mb data each month. My monthly cost? $18. (as of this writing)
Yep, you read that right! If I find I need more data on any given month for whatever reason, I can buy another block of data easy peasy. But I’ve never had to do that.
This company also offered other plans with more data at a slightly higher cost. But we chose our plan based on how we most use cell service. We’re not paying more for service we don’t use.
Why Does A Limited Cell Service Plan Work For Us?
Now part of the reason this works so well for us is because we have wifi available during our typical workday since we work right here on the Homestead. Plus I don’t go online often from my phone.
We simply chose the plan that worked best in our situation. And that’s important.
You’d need to figure out the circumstances that work best for you and your family.
But don’t pay that big-name cell company year after year because that’s just the way it’s always been… Research to find the best deal for YOU.
Personal Finance – Getting More, Paying LESS!
The same can be said for any number of companies with whom you spend money regularly.
Places such as Insurance companies you’ve been with since you were a teenager so you feel obligated to continue doing business with them.
Or car dealerships you patronize because your dad bought from there when you were a kid.
Even grocery stores because hey, it’s the location where I’ve always shopped – and many other knee-jerk buying decisions.
Customer Service Is Important Too
Of course least expensive is not your ONLY consideration when comparing products & services.
If a company or product offers you something that’s valuable to you even though they’re a slightly higher cost, by all means go with your gut.
My biggies are quality & customer service. Heck I’ll spend more money (within reason of course) with a company that offers exemplary customer service. So I get that. I really do.
But don’t get stuck paying more than you should just because it never crosses your mind to compare.
It’s a big, wide, competitive world out there. Get your best deal and don’t get stuck paying more for NOTHING!
~TxH~
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What cell phone company do you use? My husband uses Republic Wireless and his plan is $30/ month. But $18/m month sounds a lot better!
I’m currently using H2O, Kay. Their prices have inched up, another company just took them over. But we’re still only paying about $20/month. RancherMan suggested checking out Pure Talk as well. ~TxH~
So here is an update on my “wild yeast”. After feeding it for about a week we refrigerated it because neither of us care for sour dough. I decided to try baking with it on Wednesday, so I took it out of the refrigerator to bring it to room temperature. One of the websites I read said don’t feed it before using. So we didn’t and I think that was one problem. Another was I didn’t let it get warm enough. My bread, after letting it “rise” for six hours and another two in the pan we had a loaf of bread, that tasted fine but was……if I say 2 inches high that was pushing it.
So back to the drawing board. I went to another website. Weed ’em and Reap. We fed it Wednesday night and let it sit out Thursday. This morning it was nice and bubbly. I made the bread and let it rise, again for 6 hours and about an hour and a half of two in the pan, we had 2 great loaves of bread! So, to sum it up, as Weed ’em and Real says, don’t feed it for 6 hours before using, but do feed it. But also, let it sit out. We left it out overnight and I made the bread the next day, around 11 ish. Both websites did say about 6 hours to rise in the bowl and two in the pan. So if you do make this be prepared for an all day event. I don’t mind, though because i just went about my daily chores and left it to do its thing. I would be willing to continue to make my wild yeast. Interesting enough, my son in Milwaukee was telling me that the yeast tastes different depending on where you are. So yours will make the bread taste a little different from mine. I would love to try a new batch when the blackberries are ripe, or down there when the honeysuckle is blooming. Both of these smell delicious.
I will, I’m pretty excited about trying it. The website I was reading said 1/2 a cup yeast for 3 cups of flour. But I was thinking the yeast was free, we have almost a full quart jar, compared to 5 or 6 dollars for a little jar. And we made it from things we always have, anyway.
Hey Tammy,
This doesn’t have much to do with big things but my son and I finally got around to making our own yeast. We started with WW flour, which I already had, added water and a little bit of lemon juice, also something we always have. About 5 days later, have yeast. I’m going to make bread with it this week, so I’ll let you know how it goes. But I made this with out spending anything and not buying either that jar or the little packets.
This advice also pertains to buying tools and appliances. I used to buy the most expensive circular saws that had all these extra features, paying far more than necessary. Nowadays I just buy a good quality, simple saw for a lot less. I do a LOT of research before we buy anything big (except for trucks–that’s the Redneck’s area of expertise. Me? I just stick the key in and go–a vehicle is just something that gets me from point A to point B. The Redneck despairs of my ability in the realm of truck buying.) Good post!
I agree Evelyn. I’m totally onboard with paying more money for better quality, but not for bells & whistles I don’t need and won’t use. Nor simply for the name on the tag. And I agree with you on the truck-buying thing – that’s all RancherMan’s job. I’ll happily ride in the passenger seat of said truck watching the countryside go by, but I know nothing about the nuances of buying a truck. ~TxH~